Stories from Tuesday, April 10, 2012

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - State health officials say five people from central Missouri, including two toddlers, have contracted E. coli since late March. The state health department said Monday it had not determined the source of the bacteria. But a Boone County health spokeswoman say three of the patients, including a 2-year-old, reported drinking raw dairy products...

The National Weather Service is warning the local area about conditions that could contribute to out-of-control fires today and frost tonight. In a special weather statement for Southeast Missouri the weather service said low humidity and high winds will combine today to increase the danger of fires. A red flag warning has been posted for parts of Illinois and Kentucky...

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Rick Santorum is suspending his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, clearing a path for Mitt Romney to become the nominee. A Republican close to the campaign says the former Pennsylvania senator was to make the announcement Tuesday in his home state of Pennsylvania, two weeks before the GOP presidential primary there. Santorum faced a tough fight in his home state against Romney...

A civil case that alleges that Jackson illegally annexed the strip of highway that leads to Fruitland was continued Monday. Attorney Thad Michael Brady of the Cape Girardeau firm Lichtenegger, Weiss & Fetterhoff, LLC is representing the case's eight filers, which include residents of Fruitland and the organization Save Our Children's Health, Inc...

The first phase of the disc golf course at Cape County Park North is scheduled to open June 1, and local business are chipping in to keep the project going and to create a permanent marketing presence in the park. The disc golf course is the latest initiative spearheaded by Associate Commissioner Jay Purcell since taking over the duties of park superintendent last February. ...

The Notre Dame baseball team defeated visiting Poplar Bluff 6-1 on Monday.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture's Harvest for Hunger Food Drive concluded amid more than 7,000 pounds of food donated by employees and a nearly $20,000 contribution from Missouri farmers. Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler presented the donation to Scott Baker of the Missouri Food Bank Association and Frank Finnegan of the St. Louis Area Foodbank on behalf of Missouri agriculture...

Family Video, the largest privately-owned movie and game rentailer in the United States, announced that its inaugural Round It Up for Lymphoma campaign raised $1 Million for the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF). All campaign proceeds will be dedicated to lymphoma research...

To celebrate Missouri's observance of Arbor Day on April 6, representatives of the Cape Girardeau Tree Board and Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department planted two purple leaf plum trees at the Shawnee Park Center. Cape Girardeau has been nationally-recognized as a Tree City USA for 14 years, honoring the city's commitment to its community forest...

The Southeast Missouri Soccer Club Stampede U13 Boys Team took 2nd place in the Panathinaikos International Supercup Tournament in St. Louis.

It's not the country's two largest tobacco producers, Kentucky and North Carolina, states that account for two-thirds of the tobacco grown in the U.S. It's not Alaska, which doesn't tax income or sales, and only 25 municipalities even levy a property tax. It's not even New Hampshire, where several factors make the average income tax in the Granite State a whopping $89 per person...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Big River's new 4G LTE broadband network will be ready for customers in some areas this summer. As it gears up to launch this $33 million network, the company celebrated the grand opening of Big River Broadband's headquarters in a renovated fire station in downtown Farmington.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO--Saturday, Apr. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m., the Southeast Missouri Arts Council invites you to attend a lecture and workshop featuring Diane Scott, from the Kansas City organization Artist, INC, who is known for designing and managing innovative professional development programs for fine artists...

Cousins having fun at the Easter Egg hunt.

This is a BIG catfish that I caught in the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, MO. This was caught on Friday, April 6, 2012. It weighed 60 pounds, was 47 inches long and its girth was 29 inches. Good Friday is an exceptional part of the Easter weekend. This was a great Good Friday for me...

LIMA, Peru -- Suspected Shining Path rebels abducted 30 Peruvian employees of the Swedish construction company Skanska on Monday at a natural gas plant in the Amazon jungle and later released all but seven, police said. The insurgents raided the Skanska camp in the Camisea natural gas field in Kepashiato before dawn, breaking down doors and robbing workers before taking away the hostages, the Interior Ministry said in a statement...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran is signaling a possible compromise offer heading into critical talks with world powers deeply suspicious of its nuclear program: offering to scale back uranium enrichment but not abandon the ability to make nuclear fuel. The proposal -- floated by the country's nuclear chief as part of the early parrying in various capitals before negotiations get underway Friday -- suggested that sanctions-battered Iran is ready to bargain. ...

SEOUL, South Korea -- Recent satellite images show North Korea is digging a new underground tunnel in what appears to be preparation for a third nuclear test, according to South Korean intelligence officials. The excavation at North Korea's northeast Punggye-ri site, where nuclear tests were conducted in 2006 and 2009, is in its final stages, according to a report by intelligence officials that was shared Monday with The Associated Press...

BEIRUT -- Syrian forces opened fire across two tense borders Monday, killing a TV journalist in Lebanon and at least two people in a refugee camp in Turkey on the eve of a deadline for a cease-fire plan that seems all but certain to fail. Across Syria, activists reported particularly heavy violence with more than 125 people killed in the past two days...

NEW YORK -- Text messaging is posing both new opportunities and dangers for America's political campaigns. The most widely used form of mobile communication, it has become one of the most effective ways for campaigns to reach supporters, using 160-character messages to encourage last-minute donations or provide information such as where to vote. And strict federal rules prohibit such texts from going to anyone who does not "opt in" to receive them...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A grand jury will not look into the Trayvon Martin case, a special prosecutor said Monday, leaving the decision of whether to charge the teen's shooter in her hands alone and eliminating the possibility of a first-degree murder charge...

TULSA, Okla. -- Tulsa police documents say the two suspects arrested in a shooting spree that terrorized the city's black community have confessed. The documents given to The Associated Press on Monday say 19-year-old Jake England confessed to shooting three people and 32-year-old Alvin Watts confessed to shooting two...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The U.S. Senate is poised to take up the much-publicized "Buffett Rule" later this month, and Missouri's senators are split on the issue of raising taxes on the nation's wealthiest citizens.   Named for billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who gained much attention last year when he came out in favor of an income tax increase on multimillionaires after pointing out that he pays less in federal income tax than his own secretary, the Buffett Rule is slated to come up for a vote in the Senate next week.. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri labor officials say an estimated 9,000 unemployed workers will no longer receive extended benefits because the state's jobless rate has declined. The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations says the cutoff took effect Saturday...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- State officials say cleaning up litter along Missouri's highways costs about $5 million a year. And a spokesman for the Department of Conservation says that agency spends about $1 million a year to pick up litter in the state's forests, conservation areas and river access...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers appear poised to take up discrimination in the workplace again, in a possible attempt to get around a veto issued by Gov. Jay Nixon earlier this year. Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed a measure last month that would have required workers who bring wrongful termination lawsuits to prove discrimination was a "motivating factor" -- not simply a contributing factor-- in the employer's action. ...

Crews begin work on the $4.5 million Broadway corridor project Monday morning, April 9, 2012 along the eastbound lane of Broadway near Main Street in Cape Girardeau....

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Sunday house fire killed a Dexter man, authorities said. Dexter fire chief Don Seymore said Michael Henley, 44, was found dead at his home after the department responded to a fire at about 8:20 p.m. Sunday. Seymore said the fire marshal listed the blaze as accidental and as the result of smoking in bed...

Nearly 67 years have passed since Ben Fainer was liberated by American troops from seemingly endless captivity by the German military. But he has only begun to talk about that time in his life during the past four years. Fainer, a Holocaust survivor now in his 80s, will speak Wednesday in Cape Girardeau during a commemorative event of Holocaust Remembrance Day at Southeast Missouri State University...

WASHINGTON -- Lakeside gardens, dining rooms hovering over water, grassy new amphitheaters and underground pavilions at the foot of the Washington Monument have emerged as finalists in a design competition to overhaul neglected sites on the National Mall...

Faulty wiring is being blamed for a fire that damaged the exterior of a Cape Girardeau carwash Monday afternoon in an incident that injured none of the 10 employees who were working inside. Firefighters responded at 3:55 p.m. to a call to Waterworks at 205 S. Kingshighway, with the caller saying that flames were showing near the southeast corner of the building

Today is Tuesday, April 10, the 101st day of 2012. There are 265 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage, stopping first in Cherbourg, France, and then Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, the next day to pick up additional passengers before heading out into the open sea...

Writing is an art. The ability to share an experience using storytelling techniques takes time, talent and a commitment to the craft. Good writers can make you feel like you were on the scene. Columnists can shine a light on an issue -- leading to a new perspective, perhaps, or reaffirming a core belief...

Spring has sprung and that means it's swarm season for honeybees. Don't be surprised if you see a large cluster of bees hanging on your mailbox, rosebush, bird feeder or on the end of a large limb. Honeybees are a valuable resource to our food chain and a valued asset to any beekeeper. Here's some quick advice...

I was shocked to see that the MPAA rating in "The Hunger Games" is PG-13. What a travesty. IT seems that motorists are not paying attention to people in electric wheel chairs. I have almost been run over four or five times. I've gotten to the point where I have tied yellow bags and I have a bright red bag on the back of my chair to make myself more noticeable. ...

Thanks be to you, O God, for you give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Missouri Missions of Mercy, a large-scale dental clinic, is looking for local support to bring its project to Cape Girardeau in May 2013. America's Dentists Care Foundation Missions of Mercy has been providing free dental services to the underserved since 2000, but this is only the second event in Missouri...

CHICAGO -- Obesity during pregnancy may increase chances for having a child with autism, provocative new research suggests. It's among the first studies linking the two, and though it doesn't prove obesity causes autism, the authors say their results raise public health concerns because of the high level of obesity in this country...

LOS ANGELES -- Britney Spears has requested that her fiance join her father in decision-making duties involving the pop superstar's conservatorship, court filings show. The request was made by Spears' court-appointed attorney Friday and will be considered by a judge later this month...

Individuals should meet the following recommendations as part of a healthy eating pattern while staying within their calorie needs. The complete list may be found in the HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010:n Increase vegetable and fruit intake...

After a long, distinguished career in both appointed and elected positions in government, State Sen. Harry Wiggins believes he is qualified and prepared to be governor of Missouri; the Kansas City Democrat, on a statewide swing to announce his 1988 candidacy, stopped at the municipal airport yesterday for a news conference...

ATLANTA -- More than $1 billion has been spent over the past decade searching for the causes of autism. In some ways, the research looks like a long-running fishing expedition, with a focus on everything from genetics to the age of the father, the weight of the mother and how close a child lives to a freeway...

The U.S. attorney's office released the following information Monday for defendants who appeared before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. Sentenced Name: Lisa F. Ervin Residence: Cape Girardeau County Charges: Wire fraud and money laundering...

The U.S. attorney's office released the following information Monday for defendants who appeared before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. PLEADED GUILTY Name: Steffanie Kearbey Residence: Carter County, Mo. Charges: Possession and sale of stolen firearms...

*** Jackson *** Firefighters responded to the following call Sunday: * Emergency medical service on Dorothy Drive.

Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...

James L. Zieba, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at his home. He was born June 5, 1933, in Farmington, Mo., son of Frank and Alma Cleve Zieba. He and Margaret Tarry were married July 1, 1961, in Murray, Ky. Mr. Zieba graduated from Farmington High School in 1951, then graduated from Flat River Junior College (now Mineral Area College). He then went into the U.S. Army, serving part of his time in Korea. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1958...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Ruth R. Smith, 90, of Perryville died Friday, April 6, 2012, at Independence Care Center. Service is private. Miller Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Wayne Schuette, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 6, 2012, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Aug. 16, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, to Lester and Sylvia Miget Schuette. Michael graduated from Central High School in 1966. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam...

Rosie Phegley, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Southeast Hospital. She was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Lepanto, Ark., to John H. and Docia Mae King Young. She and Albert Willard Phegley were married May 11, 1940, in Ancell. He preceded her in death Jan. 6, 1990...

ANNA, Ill. -- Earl Wayne Penrod, 73, of Anna died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Danny and Davy Miller officiating. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery...

Junior "Denny" Palmer, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, April 8, 2012, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Nov. 24, 1925, in McClure, Ill., to Harry and Mary Alma Carrow Palmer. He and Margie Johnson were married March 2, 2004, in Corning, Ark...

Waldemar Karl Mueller, 74, of Jackson died Thursday, April 5, 2012, at Southeast Hospital after a two-year fight with cancer. He was born May 27, 1937, in Litz-mannstadt, Germany, to Oscar and Edith Moeglich Mueller. He and Elisabeth Kopp were married Sept. 28, 1958, in Endingen, Germany...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Trudie H. Hotop, 96, of Perryville died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 26, 1915, in Perry County, daughter of John W. and Alpha L. Moore Hoffman. She and Walter W. Hotop were married Aug. 5, 1935. He preceded her in death April 2, 2004...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Roger L. Hodge, 65, of Perryville died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at his home. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to service time Thursday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Dennis Cebulak officiating. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post 4282 and Delta Team...

NEW YORK -- Facebook is spending $1 billion to buy the photo-sharing company Instagram in the social network's largest acquisition ever. On the surface, that's a huge sum for a tiny startup that has a handful of employees and no way to make money...

All the local high school events reported Monday to the Southeast Missourian.

Southeast looks to build a winning streak in the final game of its homestand

St. Louis blasted three home runs in the first inning of its 7-1 win

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 91 in Bollinger and Stoddard counties will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction as contractor crews overlay the road. This section is from Highway 51 in Bollinger County to Route C in Stoddard County. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Route K in Stoddard County will be closed from north Route BB to south Route BB today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert pipe under the roadway. Work will be done from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636 or visit www.modot.org/southeast...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Carr Vernon bounced back from a bad bounce Monday to take medalist honors at the Poplar Bluff Invitational. Vernon's second shot on No. 11 at Westwood Hills Country Club sailed over the green, hit a cart path and landed across the street. It didn't slow the Poplar Bluff senior, who shot a 2-under-par 69 to lead the Mules to the team title...

I recently had the privilege of attending the 13th birthday party at Blanchard Elementary School for Barbara Blanchard. It was, as always, a joyous occasion. There were many of Barbara's friends and former co-workers in attendance including her second-grade teacher. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri House members have endorsed a measure requiring supporters of initiative petitions to collect signatures in all of the state's congressional districts to get their proposals on a statewide ballot. Initiative petition campaigns currently must gather signatures from two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts. ...