Stories from Sunday, October 14, 2012

Republican candidates for statewide offices stressed a theme of getting out the vote Saturday night at the 16th Annual Old Fashioned Family Picnic in Cape Girardeau. Held at The Plaza by Ray's, the picnic drew nearly 250 people and was hosted by Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson...

On Friday evening the internationally known Oak Ridge Boys sang 611 fans through four decades of award-winning music at the Bedell Performance Hall in Cape Girardeau. Starting the night off with "The Boys Are Back" the group had audience participation in mind. Fans clapped and sang along to blended harmonies as the group sang "Come On In, Take Your Coat Off" and "American Made."...

A Scott City woman said she's slowly getting her shock about the damage to her yard caused by an SUV that crashed there Thursday. "I was inside when it happened," said Denise Stevens. "My husband came and told me that we had a new car out in the yard."...

It was a time for winners Friday night when the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Special Olympics Missouri Fall Games were launched at the Show-Me Center. More than 800 athletes, coaches and parents from across Missouri were in attendance for the special occasion and from the beginning they were given a warn welcome by local officials and organizers...

Scooter operators in Cape Girardeau will need to ride solo and wear a helmet only on city streets with speed limits 30 miles per hour or less or face fines if a proposed ordinance passes through city council as written. The council will discuss and vote on a first draft of ordinance at its Monday meeting...

Witches, vampires, princesses, superheroes and other characters of all ages could be found at the Scott City Park on Saturday during the Scott City Interactive Parks Program Halloween Carnival. SCIPP is part of the local Kiwanis Club. Derick Huskstep, SCIPP board member, said this is the third year for this event and it will continue in the future. It drew 485 children and parents to the park...

Editor's note: This is the second in an occasional series about the financial state of Cape Girardeau County government. By Erin Ragan Southeast Missourian Before the latest recession -- now often referred to by Cape Girardeau County officeholders as "the good ol' days," -- expenditures for county government were increasing each year...

Southeast Missouri State's last win over a nationally ranked opponent came in 2008 when the Redhawks beat 19th-ranked Tennessee State in overtime at Houck Stadium. The Redhawks weren't far off from duplicating that feat Saturday night when TSU paid another visit to Cape Girardeau...

Leaves are starting to fall off the trees, and with the changing of the season comes the 32nd annual Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival in Frohna, Mo. It's a festival unlike most in the surrounding area. In place of the corn dogs and ribbon fries are handmade bratwurst and German potato salad. In place of booths advertising local businesses, there are tents in place demonstrating the 1800s style of making apple butter and sorghum molasses...

Today is Sunday, Oct. 14, the 288th day of 2012. There are 78 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Oct. 14, 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt, campaigning for the White House as the Progressive candidate, was shot in the chest in Milwaukee by New York saloonkeeper John Schrank. Despite the wound, Roosevelt went ahead with a scheduled speech, declaring, "It takes more than one bullet to kill a bull moose."...

Christine Rozalia Schneider and Eric Johnson were married July 27, 2012, in Columbia, Mo. Danny Sapp performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Susan Bippen of Cape Girardeau and Fred and Trish Schneider of Kelso, Mo. The groom is the son of Cheryl Ann Johnson of Columbia, and the late Michael Ray Johnson...

Heather Nicole Sparkman and Justin Mark Nolan were married June 2, 2012, at Bethlehem Baptist Church at Crosstown, Mo. Don Estes performed the ceremony. Music was by Colt and Sharon Buehler of Perryville, Mo. The bride is the daughter of Jeffrey A. and Lisa A. Sparkman of Perryville. The groom is the son of Mark "Tim" Nolan of Scott City and Coleen Foster of St. Louis...

Kristina Dawn Biri and Joshua Mark Pobst were married May 5, 2012, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson. The Revs. John Harth and Normand Varone performed the ceremony. Organist was Geri Beussink of Jackson, and vocalist was Jane Oehl of Oak Ridge...

Laura Elizabeth Lusk and Nicholas Scott Landon were married July 14, 2012, at the Jewel Box in St. Louis. Karen Nothdurft performed the ceremony. Violinist was Jenny Huo of Chapel Hill, N.C., guitarist was Ben Moehle of Kirksville, Mo., and vocalist was Kyle Oesch of St. Louis...

BENTON, Mo. -- Jerry Hart and Shelia Hart of Benton announce the engagement of their daughter, Sydney Paige Hart, to Grant Smith. He is the son of Johnny and Kay Smith of Benton. Hart expects to graduate in May 2013 from Kelly High School. She is employed at Boomland in Benton...

The gray catbird is native to North America. Its range extends across most of the U.S. except for several far western states. Adults are about the size of a cowbird. The gray catbird is a migratory bird that will spend most of the year in Southeast Missouri, but by the end of November it will have left for the warmer confines of land in and around the Gulf of Mexico...

The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold a beginning trapping workshop at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Oct. 21 at Duck Creek Conservation Area near Puxico, Mo. Registration is required by Wednesday. Participants should pack a lunch each day and bring a pair of rubber boots. To sign up for the class, contact the MDC's Southeast Regional Office at 573-290-5730...

Justin and Claire Poley, of East Prairie, Mo., were honored by the American Cancer Society with the 2013 Hero of Hope Award. The award recognizes cancer survivors and caregivers who have had exemplary involvement with Relay For Life, made significant contributions to cancer control, and made an impact in the lives of others. ...

Over the last few weeks I have looked at trees and shrubs that exhibit damage resulting from the stressful summer. Samples of stressed plants are brought to me every day to look at, and telephone callers describe damage that they see on the plants in their landscape...

Cape Girardeau's very own Vance Combs and his world-famous, or at least Lynwood Baptist Church-dinner-famous, peanut butter pie was featured this month in the "Our Iowa" magazine. Vance says he is expected to bring at least two of these pies to church dinners and to the church's fish frys. The bi-monthly publication states that Vance was born and raised in southwest Iowa, and I know he still holds strong to those roots...

Pet Name: Otis Owners: Mitchell and Shane Favorite activity: Otis loves to chase a tennis ball and will do anything for an animal cracker. ...

Smitty is a cute 2-year-old beagle. He has been through training, learning basic commands like sit, stay, down, etc. Smitty will require a fenced-in yard. For more information, contact Safe Harbor at 243-9823. ...

Pete is 2-years-old. He is neutered and declawed. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

Albert Einstein was a smart cookie. Of all the sentences you will read in this column, this first one is beyond question. The Nobel Prize-winning Einstein, dead for more than half a century, was the creator of the seminal and groundbreaking General Theory of Relativity and Unified Field Theory. He has been called, for substantial cause, the most intelligent man of the 20th century...

I get really caught up in other people's perceptions of me. I waste so much time thinking someone will think negatively of me if I do or say something that I want, and wondering what I should do or say instead to be accepted by them. Too often I abide in insecurity, thinking that what I want to do or say is "wrong" (or, more embarrassingly but probably more accurately, less cool) and that the opposite of what I want to say/do is "right" (read, more cool.) This is exhausting, frustrating and pointless because what ends up happening is that I disappear. ...

Almost 900 middle school through college-aged students and adults attended the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Fields of Faith event Wednesday night at the Jackson High School stadium. Started in 2004, Fields of Faith is a student led, interdenominational rally where students, coaches, youth pastors and other adults gather to share in worship, hear testimonies and scripture verses, and pray. This year 370 events were scheduled to be held in 37 states...

MONDAY--Chicken chunks with breadstick or garden salad with bread or turkey or ham on bun, or PB&J; broccoli & cheese or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, pears. TUESDAY--Mini tacos or garden salad with bread or turkey or ham on bun of PB&J; southwest baked beans or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, strawberry fruit cup...

The John Guild Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated Constitution Week at their September meeting held above the Jackson City Library. Patsy Johnson was presented two certificates for her portrayal of British General John Burgoyne at the battles of Saratoga which were a turning point in the Revolutionary War. ...

By Gary Clothier Question: There is a TV commercial in which NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and former NFL star Deion Sanders are dressed in pixie costumes. Manning winds up in the refrigerator next to a jar of something, and he even mentions its name. What is in the jar?...

Southeast Missouri has a strong waterfowl hunting heritage. Ducks Unlimited of Cape Girardeau County helps to preserve that heritage through conserving wetland environments. At Saturday's annual dinner, Ducks Unlimited of Cape Girardeau County will be celebrating the organization's 75th anniversary. ...

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Marvin Ray "Jake" Maevers, 73, of Quartz Hill, Calif., died peacefully at his home Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, following a brief battle with multiple myeloma. He was born May 18, 1939, in Cape Girardeau, to Earl and Verna Maevers. Jake married Patsy Ruth Rushing of Chaffee, Mo., July 3, 1959. Together, Jake and Pat raised three children, Kevin, Kimberly, and Kenton. In 1961 Jake moved to California where he made his home more than 50 years...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Edward T. Gardner, 66, of Marble Hill passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at his home, following a brief illness. He was born Sept. 13, 1946, in St. Clair, Mo., son of William and Edna Jean Short Gardner. He and Donna Wood were married July 26, 1966...

KELSO, Mo. -- David Eugene Moran, 62, of Kelso died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at his home. He was born May 29, 1950, in Linz, Austria, to Frank Ralph and Marjorie Talley Conaway Moran. He and Catherine Lucille Schabbing were married July 11, 1981...

Eugene A. Evans, 74, of St. Louis passed away Sunday, Oct. 1, 2012, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born April 7, 1938, in Arkansas, to the late Alonzo and Rebecca Evans. Eugene was owner and operator of Evans and Sons Trash Disposal from 1966 to 1990, and worked as a day laborer for Mobil Oil Co. He worked at Ceramo in Jackson, with Defender Cleaning Service at Procter and Gamble from 1990 to 1997, and later drove a school bus...

Brenda K. Rutherford, 54, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Sells Rest Home in Matthews, Mo. She was born Feb. 16, 1958, in St. Charles, Mo., to Allen and Sylvia Flanigan Lang. She first married Steve Proffer of Glenallen, Mo., and then married John Rutherford of Marble Hill, Mo...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Three Southeast Missouri judges, an area prosecutor and private attorney were among the candidates to be interviewed Thursday to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. Kelly W. Parker, presiding circuit judge for the 42nd Judicial Circuit of Wayne, Reynolds, Iron, Crawford and Dent counties; David A. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday presented the Missouri Medal of Valor to eight public safety officers from across the state for their brave and heroic acts in efforts to save lives and protect the public during 2011, including a Southeast Missouri highway patrol trooper...

The Illinois State Police will begin conducting more nighttime enforcement patrols in Massac County, Ill., in November, according to a news release by Captain Thomas Stehly. These nighttime patrols are designed to keep roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road and to ensure all vehicle occupants are buckled up. ...

WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- The weeklong search for a 10-year-old Colorado girl became a murder investigation after authorities identified a body found in a suburban Denver park as that of fifth-grader Jessica Ridgeway. "Our focus has changed from the search for Jessica to a mission of justice for Jessica," Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk said Friday. "We recognize there is a predator at large in our community."...

DALLAS -- A Dallas woman who beat her 2-year-old daughter and glued the toddler's hands to a wall was sentenced Friday to 99 years in prison by a judge who described his decision as a necessary punishment for a brutal, shocking attack. Elizabeth Escalona did not immediately react as State District Judge Larry Mitchell pronounced the sentence at the end of a five-day hearing. ...

Even after investigators unveiled a scathing report portraying him as an unrepentant drug cheat, Lance Armstrong continues to confound his public with rivaling images: a rapacious, win-at-all-costs athlete or a hero who came back from cancer. We've all heard his story before: An up-and-coming cyclist gets stricken with testicular cancer at age 25. ...

LOS ANGELES -- At every turn of Endeavour's stop-and-go commute through urban streets, a constellation of spectators trailed along as the space shuttle ploddingly nosed past stores, schools, churches and front yards. Having escaped out of Earth's atmosphere two dozen times, Endeavour's slow-speed trek Saturday to its retirement center took it through the working class streets of southern Los Angeles...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A dream alignment for numerologists has come true in the delivery room of a Des Moines hospital. The Des Moines Register reported that Laila Fitzgerald weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces when she was born. She came into the world on Thursday, which, numerically speaking, was 10/11/12. She arrived, militarily speaking, at 1314, which would be 1:14 p.m. for civilians...

BEIRUT -- The United States and regional allies are closely monitoring Syria's chemical weapons -- caught in the midst of a raging civil war -- but options for securing the toxic agents stuffed into shells, bombs and missiles are fraught with risk...

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission president had no reason to expect anything but another bad day. Then, out of the blue, after three years of back-biting and seemingly daily financial crisis, the European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for fostering peace on a continent long ravaged by war...

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

ST. LOUIS -- The late-game frustrations for the Central football team continued Friday night. The Tigers, who saw fourth-quarter leads disappear in their previous three games, fell to Chaminade 21-14 in double overtime. Central missed two potential game-winning field goals in the first overtime...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Summer's severe drought mixed with the heat might not have created the largest pumpkins this fall, but there are still plenty to go around. "We've got nice pumpkins but they're not as big," said Kevin Johns, who owns Cates Orchard in Dudley with his wife, Janet Cates Johns. "We've had a decent crop -- not as good as crop as in years past, though."...

By RUS BAER Columbia Daily Tribune COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Hickman football team was doing what it does, hanging around waiting for someone to provide a big play. Tied at halftime with Jackson during Friday night's homecoming game on LeMone Field, those big plays came in droves during a 20-point third quarter that continued the sixth-ranked Kewpies' undefeated season with a 27-14 victory...

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

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday...

Major Garrett W. Knowlan, USAF, 32, of Shalimar, Fla., son of Jack H. Jr. and Bonnie Knowlan, passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Tentative service times will include visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Cape County Cowboy Church at Oak Ridge...

Hannah Althea Kerr, 5 weeks old, of Cape Girardeau received her angel wings Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Sept. 4, 2012 in Memphis, TN. to Adam Peter and Melissa Rene (Mack) Kerr. Survivors include her parents, Adam and Melissa Kerr; two sisters, Emma and Lucy Kerr of Cape Girardeau; maternal grandparents Jerry and Jeannie Mack of Cape Girardeau; and paternal grandparents Peter and Bonnie Kerr of Cape Girardeau...

Ruth Frances "Fran" Nelson, 73, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at her home after a four-year battle with cancer. She was born June 21, 1939, in Springfield, Mo., daughter of Don and Erma Marler Black. She and Dale Nelson were married in January 1956 in Springfield, Mo...

CAIRO, Ill. — Betty J. Shackles Franklin, 83, of Cairo died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Wesley A. Harrell, 52, of Cairo died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. There is no visitation. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Ill. The Revs. Jimmy Ellis Sr. and Mark Cruse will officiate...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Betty J. Shackles, 83, of Cairo, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill., and from 9 a.m. Monday until the time of her service...

CAIRO, Ill. — Willie M. "Bill" Rose, 93, of Cairo, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later by the Barkett Funeral Home of Cairo.

Son to Nicholas William and Brittni Lane Wysocki of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, 11:05 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. Name, Braxtyn Dean. Weight, 6 pounds, 12 ounces. Third child, second son. Mrs. Wysocki is the former Brittni Kinder, daughter of Dee Kinder and Steve Kinder and Mary Janes of Cape Girardeau. Wysocki is the son of Robert and Tammy Lee of Poplar Bluff and Rick and Chris Wysocki of Alpena, Mich. He is employed by Berry Roofing...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Betty C. Steele, 69, of Perryville died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, and from 6:30 to 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville...

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

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

BENTON, Mo. -- The Kelly Hawks earned another trip to state with a blowout win over the Hartville Eagles on Saturday. The Hawks displayed a complete team effort in dismantling the Eagles 13-0 in five innings, invoking the 10-run rule in the Class 2 quarterfinal game...

Southeast Missouri State true freshman wide receiver Paul McRoberts had been waiting for his chance at extended playing time. McRoberts finally got it Saturday night, and he showed why Southeast coaches are so high on the St. Louis native. McRoberts tied for the team lead in receptions with five, for 66 yards, during Southeast's 40-28 home loss to undefeated Tennessee State...

The Southeast Missouri State soccer team picked up a thrilling win on senior night. Junior Jacey Boyko's goal 3 minutes, 39 seconds into sudden-death overtime lifted the Redhawks past Eastern Kentucky 1-0 on Friday at Houck Stadium. Boyko headed a crossing feed from the left side into the top corner of the net to end the Redhawks' three-match losing streak. Sophomore Kasey Crowden and freshman Paige Luehmann earned assists...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team pretty much had rolled through its first six Ohio Valley Conference opponents, losing no more than one game in any match. Southeast finally was tested over the weekend -- and the Redhawks passed with flying colors...

SAN FRANCISCO -- As many times as he gets asked, Cardinals closer Jason Motte still has no perfect answer for how St. Louis found a way to win at Washington after trailing 6-0 and get back to the NL championship series. "These guys just prove what big hearts they have and how much they go out there and work their butts off," said Motte, Friday night's winning pitcher. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Nick Saban came off the field Saturday and sized up the afternoon for No. 1 Alabama. "It was tough sledding out there today, guys," the Crimson Tide coach said. The thing is, he was speaking more about the weather than the opponent...

ST. LOUIS -- The perfect rookie kicker with the cannon leg has nothing on his rookie roommate with the St. Louis Rams. Just like Greg Zuerlein, who's 13 for 13 on field goals this year, punter Johnny Hekker is fast making a name for himself. Together, the youngsters have made quite an impact. One has been able to put the Rams (3-2) in scoring position not long after they cross midfield this season and the other has done his best to pin down the opponents...

401 Independence St. Study session, 5 p.m. Monday Meeting, 7 p.m. Monday Items for discussion Regular Session Consent agenda New Ordinances Appointments...

WASHINGTON -- Bill Clinton is back in the game big time, serving as President Barack Obama's surrogate in chief and relying on his oratorical skill and folksy style to help Democratic candidates. His high-profile role also gives him the chance to enhance his legacy as Democratic elder statesman and global humanitarian. He can build up political IOUs should his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, decide to run again for president down the road...

For many of us, Sunday is a day for church. We gather with other believers of like faith for a time of worship and spiritual growth. We sing songs, fellowship with others and hear a message from a pastor or other member of the clergy. But did you know that October is considered Clergy Appreciation Month and that today marks Clergy Appreciation Day?...

I am a parent of a daughter at Southeast Missouri State University and I attended family weekend. The festival atmosphere was just very well done. Everything was decorated very nicely and we had a great time. I want to thank the department that put that on. It was a very nice way to spend our day with our daughter...

Bryce really enjoyed the goats at the zoo!

SPRINGFIELD -- A Southern Illinois judge's decision to continue blocking Gov. Pat Quinn from closing state prison facilities likely will leave workers in limbo for more than a month. In a ruling handed down Wednesday, Associate Circuit Court Judge Charles Cavaness said the Quinn administration must negotiate with the state's largest employee union over safety concerns associated with his plan to shut down facilities in Tamms, Dwight, Murphysboro, Carbondale and Decatur...

Cardinal fever has struck the area; following last night's win over the Giants, the Cardinals are back on track and headed for a World Series berth, local Redbird fans are confident. The largest exotic animal auction in the United States gets underway here; the auction at 5-H Ranch will continue through Sunday and will be attended by thousands of collectors and sellers...

In some ways, walking into Deb Maevers' antique store, Pastimes Antiques, is like stepping into your mom or grandmother's closet. There is an abundance of fabulous vintage clothing just waiting to help you make a fashion statement. And that's what inspired the Vintage NOW fashion show, which takes vintage pieces and mixes them with modern clothing for a fresh look...

Make and model: 2005 Heritage Softail Classic Harley Davidson Trike Conversion Owner(s): Doc & Marty Stephenson Owner's hometown: Old Appleton, MO Original 2005 Heritage Softail Classic fitted with a Lehman trike kit assembled by Las Vegas Trikes. Pearl silver body with blue pin striping, black leather with silver studs and chrome, chrome, chrome!!...