Stories from Friday, May 31, 2013

Cape Girardeau police hope autopsy results offer some clues into a shooting at a home that left two people dead. Police are still not disclosing the relationships of the victims -- 57-year-old Mary Joseph and 18-year-old Matthew Joseph. Both were found dead Thursday morning inside a home in an affluent area of the southeast Missouri town. Autopsies were planned for Friday...

CAMPBELL, Mo. (AP) -- Two teenagers are hospitalized with moderate injuries after a pavilion collapsed on them during a storm that swept through southeast Missouri. The Daily Dunklin Democrat newspaper in Kennett, Mo., reports that 17-year-old Cheyenne Burch and 15-year-old Valerie Bailey were injured Thursday afternoon. The teens were out for a walk when it began to storm. They took shelter under a pavilion in a park in Campbell, Mo...

Y CITY, Ark. (AP) -- Forecasters warned that large hail and more tornadoes could strafe parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri on Friday, a day after powerful storms and floods killed at least three people in the storm-weary region. Up to a dozen tornadoes touched down in mostly rural parts of Arkansas on Thursday, as well as one in Illinois and three in Oklahoma. One twister bounced through the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow, causing some structural damage, but no injuries...

The alert was canceled after the child was found safe.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Emergency officials set out Saturday to assess damage from a series of violent storms and tornadoes that killed nine people as it swept through Oklahoma City and its suburbs with tornadoes, large hail and heavy rain. More than 100 people were injured.

Stone Creek Stables in Jackson will host competitors from Missouri and other states Saturday during the 36th annual Missouri State Championship Racking Horse Show. "We have riders bringing their horses in from Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas," said Jim Morris, an organizer of the state championship. "I even got a call from people in Michigan who said they were coming down."...

American Legion baseball, to the casual observer, is a means to while away the summer playing or watching a game that relatively goes hand-in-hand with the summer months. But to the Cape Ford and Sons American Legion Post 63 squad and head coach Justin Lieser, it means more. Much, much more...

Jade Ray Samanta attended the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week in Washington, D.C. Samanta, 12, will be an eighth-grade student this fall at Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau. After winning both a spelling contest at the school and the Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee, Samanta went on to compete in the weeklong national spelling contest...

Jess Bolen insists he has slowed down plenty over the years, which is understandable for somebody age 71. But his team's performance on the field has certainly stood the test of time. The Plaza Tire Capahas, coming off another impressive season, open their 2013 campaign with today's 8 p.m. contest against Valmeyer, Ill...

A shooting Thursday in Cape Girardeau left two people dead and a third wounded. Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Darin Hickey on Thursday afternoon said Matthew Joseph, 18, and Mary Joseph, 57, were killed in the shooting at 1220 W. Cape Rock Drive. George Joseph, 48, was being treated Thursday afternoon for a gunshot wound. ...

Cape County Park. Memorial Day.

The Mississippi River is expected to rise over its "major" flood stage designation of 42 feet by June 8 in Cape Girardeau. The river was at about 31 feet late Thursday. Flood stage is 32 feet. According to the National Weather Service, the river should rise above the flood stage today and crest at 43 feet by June 8, the highest it's been this year.

ST. LOUIS -- The Kansas City Royals waited a long time between wins. They had no problem waiting to put this one in the books. Jeff Francoeur and Eric Hosmer combined for three RBIs in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen and the Royals spoiled Michael Wacha's almost spotless debut, snapping an eight-game losing streak with a rain-delayed 4-2 victory on Thursday night...

"Just shock" is what Jacque Waller's sister, Cheryl Brenneke, said she felt when she heard her sister's body had been found earlier this week. "You anticipate how you're going to feel for two years," Brenneke said. "You just can't prepare yourself, really. You just can't." Brenneke, who has custody of Jacque and Clay Waller's 7-year-old triplets, Maddox, Avery and Addison, told the children the news Thursday morning -- "that was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life," she said....

After two years of searching and waiting, a formal announcement came Thursday: The remains of Jacque Waller were finally discovered. Saturday is the two-year anniversary of the day the Jackson mother of triplets went missing. The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued a news release about 2 p.m. Thursday, which simply stated Jacque Waller's remains were recovered Wednesday.

U.S. 60 in Stoddard Co. reduced for pavement repairs East- and westbound U.S. 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make pavement repairs. Work on the westbound section, from Route F to one mile west, will be performed from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The eastbound lane, from the Butler County line to Route H, will be reduced from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- It didn't take long for a rural Missouri sheriff to replace half his staff. The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Mo., reports that Madison County Sheriff Bobby Spain already has hired replacements for three officers fired and one who resigned over the weekend. The new deputies are expected to be sworn in early next week...

ST. LOUIS -- George Brett is giving coaching a month. The greatest player in Kansas City Royals history isn't sure teaching is his forte and doesn't know if players will listen. Before hustling to the batting cage to start his job and greet well-wishers that included his former manager Whitey Herzog, the team's high profile interim batting coach certainly gave a fiery acceptance speech...

Patrick E. Newman, 46, of Blue Mountain, Miss., pleaded guilty to one felony count of bank robbery Wednesday before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., in Cape Girardeau. With his plea, Newman admitted to buying two cellphones on Nov. ...

The Westminster Presbyterian Church will hold its 50th anniversary celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. According to information provided by the church, the church was proposed in 1962 by five founding families who held their first service in the basement of a Cape Girardeau home. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Historic downtown Sikeston has lined up a variety of area talent to kick off the next five weekends with free musical entertainment Friday evenings. There will be music in Malone Park beginning at 6 p.m. today and on each following Friday evening through the end of June, according to Lynn Lancaster, executive director of Historic downtown Sikeston...

Today is Friday, May 31, the 151st day of 2013. There are 214 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 31, 1669, English diarist Samuel Pepys wrote the final entry of his journal, blaming his failing eyesight for his inability to continue...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The president of Ohio State University said Notre Dame was never invited to join the Big Ten because the university's priests are not good partners, joking that "those damn Catholics" can't be trusted, according to a recording of a meeting he attended last year...

BEIRUT -- Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview broadcast Thursday that he is "confident in victory" in his country's civil war, and he warned that Damascus would retaliate for any future Israeli airstrike on his territory. Assad also told the Lebanese TV station Al-Manar that Russia has fulfilled some of its weapons contracts recently, but was vague on whether this included advanced S-300 air defense systems...

WASHINGTON -- Fears of terrorism have made it harder than ever for residents to find out what dangerous chemicals lurk in their backyards, The Associated Press has found. Secrecy and shoddy recordkeeping have kept the public and emergency workers in the dark about stockpiles of explosive material...

House Republicans voted to repeal Obama Care again. "Not only is this a clear waste of time and of taxpayer dollars, it is a deliberate vote to eliminate affordable quality health care benefits millions of Americans are already enjoying," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said. ...

Missy Kitty says "Hey." Our furry friend -- often called The Little Dictator by those who know her best -- is both predictable and unpredictable. On the one hand, cats love routine. Missy Kitty knows when 5 p.m. rolls around. That's when she gets food in her dish in the garage. She knows when daylight-savings time goes into effect. It takes her a few days to adjust. Then heaven forbid if you miss that 5 o'clock feeding...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 10-year-old boy who found $10,000 in a drawer at a Kansas City hotel where he was staying with his father turned the money over to police. Tyler Schaefer found the neatly stacked bills Saturday in the room where he and his father, Cody Schaefer, were staying at a hotel near the airport, The Kansas City Star reported. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Police and business owners in the St. Louis region are fighting back against an increase in smash-and-grab robberies that have sometimes involved thieves ramming into stores with stolen vehicles. At least 14 such robberies have been reported in the St. ...

Son to Brandie Nikole Wallace of Benton, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, 7:31 p.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013. Name, Nathen Allen Ray. Weight, 8 pounds, 1 ounce. First child. Ms. Wallace is the daughter of Michelle Wallace and Bill Wallace of Benton. She is a student and is employed at Cape Regional Credit Union...

The deputy chief of the Cherokee nation -- John A. Ketcher -- will be the featured speaker during dedication ceremonies this weekend for the new visitor and interpretive center at Trail of Tears State Park. The Parks and Recreation Department is putting the final touches on restoration of the two old steam locomotives in Arena and Capaha parks; the department is planning to do landscaping around the locomotives; and the work should be completed by June 15...

Evelyn Emma Thiele, 86, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home, where she was a resident the last two months. She was born June 11, 1926, in Drum, Mo., daughter of Henry and Minnie Stoverink Holweg. She and Edwin George Thiele were married Aug. 17, 1946, in Leopold, Mo. He passed away June 11, 2006...

John Adams Savers, 70, of Stuttgart, Ark., formerly of Jackson, passed away Sunday, May 26, 2013. He was born Oct. 17, 1942, in Cape Girardeau, son of John Andrew and Vivian Adams Savers. John was a graduate of St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing [1969] and St. John's Hospital School of Anesthesia, Springfield, Ill., [1974]. He was a certified registered nurse anesthetist [CRNA] from September 1974 until retiring in March 2005...

William Bruce Parrish, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at the Lutheran Home. He was born July 16, 1933, in Leesville, S.C., son of William Salter and Lillian Bruce Parrish. Bruce attended High School in Cayce, S.C., Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., and the University of South Carolina in Columbia,...

Carol M. Maschmeier, 48, of Oak Ridge died Sunday, May 26, 2013, at her home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until time of service Saturday at Connection Point Church in Jackson. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Kevin Mann officiating...

Darlene Hudson Johnson, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at Southeast Hospital. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Lorimier Cemetery. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Ann Harris, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, May 30, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born May 8, 1932, near Chaffee, Mo., to E. Dale "Pop" and Dorothy Katherine "Mom" Grojean Crites. She and Billy E. Harris were married Jan. 27, 1951, in Kelso, Mo. He preceded her in death April 5, 1996...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Margarito "Moggie" Guzman, 72, of Morley, formerly of Oran, Mo., passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until time of service Sunday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran...

Virginia Blumenberg, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at the Lutheran Home. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Gene Blumenberg of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Diana (Gene) Edwards of Thebes, Ill.; two sisters, Maxine Martin of Festus, Mo., and Patricia Malugen of Fenton, Mo...

Glenda Abbott, 79, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. She was born Oct. 15, 1933, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ben and Goldie Townsend Bullard. She and Jerry Abbott were married April 19, 1952, in Cape Girardeau. He passed away Nov. 23, 1999...

SEMO District Fair officials recently announced the acts they're bringing to Arena Park this September. The fair will have a truck and tractor pull on opening day, barrel racing Sept. 8, a "freestyle madness" FMX [freestyle motocross] and BMX event Sept. 9, dual-demolition derby Sept. 10 and the 13th annual Heartland Idol on Sept. 11. The musical acts start Sept. 12...

The Jackson Fire Department responded to the following calls Wednesday: The Jackson Fire Department responded to the following calls Thursday:...

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

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Tuesday: The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Wednesday: The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Thursday:...

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

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- The second annual Altenburg Truck Pull will be Saturday at the East Perry Community Fairgrounds in Altenburg. The first hook will be at 3 p.m. Spectator gates open at 2 p.m., while the pit gate opens at 1 p.m. There will be 11 classes of trucks at the event. ...

NEW YORK -- Kid Rock is a scalper. The 42-year-old Grammy winner, who is launching a summer tour where most tickets are priced at $20, said he's holding about 1,000 tickets from each show and reselling them on ticketsnow.com -- owned by Ticketmaster -- to make up for the cheaper regular price he's offering...

Ken Martin retired in January after 42 years as a salesman at Shivelbine's Music Store, but to him it was never really work. "I've spent my life in the music business," Martin said, "but my philosophy has always been to honor God and help others. With that attitude, you always win."...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill came to the University of Missouri Thursday to tout a plan that would drastically cut interest rates on federally subsidized student loans. She left with an earful of comments from debt-ridden Mizzou student leaders who had clearly done their homework and remain worried about their futures...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Already leaning toward a veto, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon raised a new objection Thursday to an income-tax-cut bill passed by Missouri's Republican-led Legislature -- asserting it could result in a more than $200 million tax increase on prescription medications...

Listen to traditional-style bluegrass in the country at the Spring Bluegrass Concert at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Leevon DeCourley, who grew up in Arab, Mo., and can be heard weekday afternoons on Pure Country C106.1, will perform. Bring lawn chairs for seating. Refreshments will be provided...

Thank you, O Lord Jesus, that through you we can find strength. Amen.

Three Southeast Missouri State track & field athletes received special recognition Thursday for their work in the classroom. Sophomore Kevin Farley, senior Joel Krause and senior Alex Zisser each earned first-team Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)...

ROME (AP) -- An Italian expert in Hebrew manuscripts said Wednesday he has discovered the oldest known complete Torah scroll, a sheepskin document dating from 1155-1225. It was right under his nose, in the University of Bologna library, where it had been mistakenly catalogued a century ago as dating from the 17th century...

Demolition of the former Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, 100 Broadway, is scheduled to begin Monday, according to a news release from the city of Cape Girardeau. The news release said the demolition should be completed before June 25, the day of the Great Race. The area will not be paved at that time, but will be a gravel parking area...