Stories from August 2013

There will not be a meeting of the Cape Girardeau County Commission today. The commission is next scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Monday at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse and Administrative Building in Jackson. Pertinent address: One Barton Square, Jackson, Mo...

Health Management Associates Inc. of Naples, Fla., which owns Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, is being bought by Community Health Systems Inc. of Franklin, Tenn. The purchase will not be final until it is approved by 70 percent of CHS' shareholders, which is expected to happen about March...

MORVEN, Ga. -- Small-town police departments across the country have gobbled up tons of equipment discarded by a downsizing military -- bicycles, bed sheets, bowling pins, French horns, dog collars, even a colonoscopy machine -- regardless of whether the items are needed or will be used...

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan bill that would reduce the costs of borrowing for millions of students passed the House on Wednesday and was heading to President Barack Obama for his signature. The legislation links student loan interest rates to the financial markets, offering lower rates for most students now but higher ones down the line if the economy improves as expected. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nearly 400 people across the country have been sickened by cyclospora, a lengthy intestinal illness usually contracted by eating contaminated food. But if you're looking to find out exactly where it came from, you may be out of luck...

Cape Girardeau police have responded to seven burglary reports in two days, but at this point, there is no reason to believe the cases are linked, a police spokesman said. "At this time, nothing is standing out," said Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department...

The Plaza Tire Capahas' best National Baseball Congress World Series showing in years is not over yet. Plaza Tire posted a wild 9-8 win over the Ozark (Mo.) Generals in a game that started at 10:08 p.m. Wednesday night and ended at 12:20 a.m. Thursday morning. The Capahas, who earlier Wednesday rallied past the Liberal (Kan.) Bee Jays 6-2, improved to 4-1 during the 79th annual 32-team, double-elimination event in Wichita, Kan.

Ressel finished with a 10-2 record to go along with a 1.59 ERA in a team-leading 70 1/3 innings pitched while batting .402 in the leadoff spot.

seen this nice buck one afternoon

These adorable puppies were in foster care until they were old enough to be adopted. They are now 8 weeks old and up for adoption. All three are female. They are terrier mixes and will be small to medium dogs. If you are interested in adopting or becoming a foster parent for us please call 573-334-5837...

Colorful veggies at the Thursday market August 1st.

PITTSBURGH -- Manager Mike Matheny admitted the St. Louis Cardinals' losing streak was starting to get to him. "It's something you go to sleep thinking about and you wake up thinking about it and wonder what that sick feeling in your stomach is when you get up," Matheny said. "You realize it's because we haven't been doing what we're supposed to do, what we're paid to do, and that's win ballgames."

The Plaza Tire Capahas faced a long day of action Wednesday at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. But they didn't mind a bit after they rallied to beat the Liberal (Kan.) Bee Jays, the 2010 NBC World Series champions, 6-2 Wednesday afternoon...

ST. LOUIS -- Minus the two-a-days, the IV drips, the soft tissue muscle pulls and the fatigue, Chris Long has actually become a fan of training camp. The leader of the St. Louis Rams' pass rush, and their seniority leader heading into his sixth season, does not miss the summer grind that was eliminated with the new collective bargaining agreement. ...

Associated Press PITTSBURGH -- St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina's sprained right knee needs rest, but not surgery. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday that Molina is dealing with inflammation in the knee but called the results of an MRI encouraging. The Cardinals placed the All-Star on the 15-day disabled list less than 24 hours after Molina left a 6-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the third inning...

Today is Thursday, Aug. 1, the 213th day of 2013. There are 152 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 1, 1913, the Joyce Kilmer poem "Trees" was first published in "Poetry: A Magazine of Verse." On this date: In 1714, Britain's Queen Anne died at age 49; she was succeeded by George I...

What a fantastic summer we've had. The weather lately has been unseasonably cool -- a refreshing surprise considering past years of July heat and humidity. We hope you've enjoyed some outdoor activities during this cool period. There's certainly been no shortage of fun things to do...

Ethan Seyer of Oak Ridge High School made it to state for cross country three years in a row. The valedictorian said he's going to remember the races, and the way it felt to compete against other driven runners. "There's been some pretty cool racing moments," he said. "It's like when you've finally beat somebody you've never beat or like winning districts twice -- those were both pretty good races."...

Reed Dickson and Samartha Shrestha, students at Cape Girardeau Central High School, attended the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Leadership in Practice program in June at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. They joined more than 100 high school students in learning skills to become an effective leader in their schools and communities. ...

TODAY NEW MOVIES EVENTS FRIDAY EVENTS SATURDAY EVENTS SUNDAY EVENTS NEXT WEEK NEW RELEASES GAMES DVDs CDs...

It's something we put our produce in, but have you ever considered using your produce bag for a science experiment? Using a few materials from around the house you can turn a produce bag into a science toy. Materials Instructions STEP 1: Blow up the balloon and tie off the opening...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis officials will repeal a 16-year-old city ordinance that requires street performers to audition and purchase a $100 permit for the right to ply their trades, a mayor's spokeswoman said Wednesday. Maggie Crane, a spokeswoman for Mayor Francis Slay, said the city won't appeal U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry's Tuesday ruling blocking enforcement of the ordinance, and the city intends to repeal it altogether...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State regulators have determined that Ameren Missouri owes its electric customers slightly more than $26 million for failing to include some revenue in its calculations. The Missouri Public Service Commission on Wednesday approved an order for the St. Louis-based company to refund the money to customers...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy grew from April through June at an annual rate of 1.7 percent -- a sluggish pace but stronger than in the previous quarter. Businesses spent more, and the federal government cut less, offsetting weaker spending by consumers...

CLEVELAND -- When Ariel Castro was first arrested and charged with imprisoning and raping three women in his house on a tough Cleveland street over a decade, his attorneys said evidence would show that he was not a monster. The county prosecutor says the facts he'll present today at Castro's sentencing, where Castro faces life in prison plus 1,000 years, will prove the lawyers wrong...

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- O.J. Simpson won a small victory Wednesday in his bid for freedom as Nevada granted him parole on some of his 2008 convictions for kidnapping and armed robbery involving the holdup of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel room...

BEIRUT -- Syria's president already has a Facebook page, Twitter account and a YouTube channel. Now Bashar Assad is turning to the popular photo-sharing service Instagram in the latest attempt at improving his image as his country burns, posting pictures of himself and his glamorous wife surrounded by idolizing crowds...

VATICAN CITY -- The Francis Revolution is underway. Not everyone is pleased. Four months into his papacy, Francis has called on young Catholics in the trenches to take up spiritual arms to shake up a dusty, doctrinaire church that is losing faithful and relevance. ...

CAIRO -- Protesters holding sticks and wearing helmets and makeshift body armor stand behind mounds of sandbags, tires and brick walls. They change guards every two hours to ensure they stay alert. With Egypt's military-backed government signaling a crackdown is imminent, supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi are taking no chances with security at their two protest camps in Cairo...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The former office manager for the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department is facing theft charges. Authorities on Wednesday announced Deborah L. Cowan is accused of stealing property or service worth more than $25,000. Police have not detailed what was allegedly stolen. ...

State emergency management officials are working with local public entities in Cape Girardeau County and other federally declared disaster areas to begin repairing damage caused by the inclement weather in June. Gov. Jay Nixon requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government July 5 after severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding wracked the state. The declaration was approved July 19...

More than 1,500 Cape Girardeau residents were without power Wednesday morning after a car struck a utility pole around 5:44 a.m. near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Randol Avenue. Ameren Missouri spokesman Kent Martin said 978 of those residents had power restored by 8 a.m. Crews were working through the morning to have power restored to the other 524 customers by 11 a.m., and Martin said all customers were fully restored by 12:29 p.m...

A Tuesday night fire in Cape Girardeau resulted in moderate fire and smoke damage to an apartment, but the occupants were able to flee the blaze. According to a news release issued by the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, a call was received at about 10:50 p.m. ...

Michele Tapp, academic and career advising director at Southeast Missouri State University, will give a presentation called "Rolling Out REDConnect" on Friday at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee. Tapp will speak about REDConnect, Southeast's online job search resource, said Kim Voelker, membership development specialist for the chamber of commerce. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Realizing the impact of the 1-cent sales tax on Sikeston's budget just takes a quick look at the numbers. And keeping that revenue source in place just takes a quick trip to the voting booth, according to its supporters. "It is really important that people go to the polls and vote -- not just support it, but get out and vote for it. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Bloomfield city employee was arrested Monday and charged with stealing city property. Christopher W. Ferguson, 30, of Bloomfield has been charged with felony theft. The arrest was confirmed by Bloomfield police chief Tim Zych on Monday afternoon...

The Soviet way of life is the focus of a series of articles that begins running in the Southeast Missourian; the articles were written by Jon Rust, a junior this fall at the University of North Carolina, who spent a month in the U.S.S.R. this spring...

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's national security team acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that, when investigating one suspected terrorist, it can read and store the phone records of millions of Americans. Since it was revealed recently that the National Security Agency puts the phone records of every American into a database, the Obama administration has assured the nation that such records are rarely searched and, when they are, officials target only suspected international terrorists.. ...

OAK CREEK, Wis. -- Sikh temples generally have four doors, one on each side of the building, as a symbolic invitation to travelers in every direction. But after a lone gunman walked into a Milwaukee-area Sikh temple last year and killed six people, some of the survivors suggested rethinking their openness...

O Lord Jesus, we worship you, our Prince of Peace and blessed Savior. Amen.

My daughter had a garage sale this past Friday and had on display and for sale a product line she sells to supplement her income. Someone stole two tubes of pain reliever that were not cheap products. I don't see how that person can sleep at night with a clear conscience. Someday they will be judged and held accountable for their actions...

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

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

Reggie Walker, 48, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Kennett, Mo., died Monday, July 29, 2013, in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at McDaniel Funeral Home in Kennett. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Kennett, with Mark Anderson officiating...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Marion Richard Waggener, 90, of Charleston and Marco Island, Fla., died Monday, July 29, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. He was born April 2, 1923, in Gideon, Mo., to Richard Garnett and Alma Geraldine Thompson Waggener. He married Paula Choate of Hickman, Ky., 59 years ago on June 13, 1954...

Shirley Lou Syx Voelker, 78, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Jackson Manor, surrounded by her family. She was born July 19, 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, daughter of Edward and Leona Dollie Warren Syx. Shirley was the youngest of 14 children. ...

Ulysees "Gene" Schoen, 74, of Scott City died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at his home. He was born Feb. 27, 1939, in Illmo, to Robert Donnat and Mary Louise Sturm Schoen. Gene was a truck driver for West Lake Quarry. Survivors include a daughter, Betty (Terry) McBride of Scott City; a sister, Carolyn Smith of Scott City; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mary Alice Murphy, 88, of Cairo died Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born July 28, 1925, in Karnak, Ill., daughter of Fred and Virginia Shaffer Egner. Mary retired from the Illinois Department of Unemployment. She was a member of Tigert Memorial United Methodist Church and was an avid supporter of Cairo Elks Lodge and Magnolia Manor Patrons Club...

Oris Douglas Hill Jr., 66, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 29, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born July 3, 1947, in Cairo, Ill., to the late Oris Hill Sr. and Dorothy Price Hill Robertson. He and Mary L. Sawyer-Rollins were married Sept. 1, 2002, in Cairo...

After a short stay here on Earth, long enough to bless the lives of many people, Luka Dean Humburg-Caldwell, 11 days, of St. Louis went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 27, 2013, at Children's Hospital in St. Louis. He was born July 16, 2013, at Missouri Baptist Hospital, son of Lauren Humburg and Matthew Caldwell...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Carroll David Andrews, 75, of Zalma passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at his home. He was born March 7, 1938, at Asherville, Mo., son of Aden and Hester Hodge Andrews. David retired from Boeing in St. Louis. He attended Shady Dell General Baptist Church at McGee, MO...

The Detroit Tigers know what's coming, so they went out and got themselves a new shortstop for the rest of the season. The Yankees know, too, though they don't seem nearly as concerned about their upcoming loss. The dominoes are falling in baseball's latest drug scandal and by now everyone but Alex Rodriguez has a good idea what their punishment will be. For A-Rod, it's a bit more complicated, though the one thing that seems virtually certain is that he'll never put on the pinstripes again...

NEW MADRID, Mo. (AP) -- The former office manager for the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department in southeast Missouri is facing theft charges. Authorities on Wednesday announced that Deborah L. Cowan is accused of stealing property or service worth more than $25,000. Police have not detailed what was allegedly stolen...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in July, a modest increase and the fewest since March. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to a 4½-year low of 7.4 percent, a hopeful sign. Unemployment declined from 7.6 percent in June because more Americans found jobs, and others stopped looking and were no longer counted as unemployed...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States issued a global travel alert Friday, citing an al-Qaida threat that also caused the State Department to close 21 embassies and consulates this weekend in the Muslim world. The State Department warned American citizens of the potential for terrorism particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, with a possible attack occurring or coming from the Arabian Peninsula...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com Sam Ishmael of Fruitland (above) and Travis Gentry of Cape Girardeau (below) pose for portraits Thursday at Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau. The friends were taking advantage of Thursday's weather at the park to take in the view of the Mississpi River....

MINER, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., man was arrested in connection with two burglaries, including one at a local church. Miner police chief Chris Griggs reported Chad Ryan Henley, 27, was arrested after an investigation that began early Tuesday into burglaries at a residence on Route H and at the Miner Baptist Church. Griggs said the property stolen in the burglaries was recovered...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The 61st annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo doesn't officially begin until Wednesday, but several events are scheduled before opening night and throughout the rodeo's duration. The 5k Cowboy Color Chase run/walk will kick off rodeo-themed festivities at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Depot...

A Bonne Terre, Mo., man has been charged with five felonies in connection with the death of a Cape Girardeau tattoo artist who disappeared in December after telling his father he feared the man would kill him, court records show. Samuel Francis, 38, was last seen alive Dec. 17 at a residence outside Desloge, Mo. His body was found July 25 in a septic tank near Bonne Terre...

A transmission agreement between Raycom Media and Dish Network expired Thursday after months of negotiation and a failure to reach a new agreement. As of Thursday evening, Dish Network customers were not receiving programming from KFVS12 or its sister network The Heartland's CW [WQWQ]...

Lt. Jerry Bledsoe was a rookie deputy when a redheaded teenager vanished from the Scott City gas station where she worked, leaving behind her purse, her car and a mystery that has haunted the officer since 1979. More than 34 years later, Bledsoe still is trying to find out what happened to then-19-year-old Cheryl Ann Scherer...

He was fired seven times as he tried to make a career, he reminded his listeners Thursday, on the "silver anniversary" of The Rush Limbaugh Show. Rush Hudson Limbaugh III, born and raised in Cape Girardeau, marked 25 years of talking on the radio to a national audience -- a period of time the notoriously outspoken and conservative host referred to as "about 24 and a half years longer than the drive-by media forecast that it would last. ...

The Plaza Tire Capahas' best National Baseball Congress World Series showing in years, one that featured several spine-tingling finishes, finally ended Thursday night in Wichita, Kan. Plaza Tire fell one win short of advancing to championship week under the new tournament format, losing to the San Diego Force 7-3...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis rookie wide receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey received the lesson of a lifetime Thursday night. The two former West Virginia standouts got a 20-minute session with former Rams All-Pro Isaac Bruce following the team's regular two-hour practice session,...

A new traffic signal soon will be installed at the intersection of Broadway and Henderson Avenue. The installation is a joint effort between the city and Southeast Missouri State University to ensure student safety and alleviate traffic congestion. Angela Meyer, director of facilities management at Southeast, said discussion of a traffic signal and push buttons for pedestrian crossing began in the summer of 2008 when the university acquired land at the southwest corner of Broadway and Henderson to be used for student parking. ...

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, checking out the petunias.

On Wednesday, July 10th, Raetta Kimbel was awarded " The Hometown Hero Appreciation Award" for her achievements as a volunteer. At an award dinner at the Ponderosa restaurant in Perryville, Missouri, Kenny Volkerding, President of the Perryville Chapter of Modern Woodmen of America, not only presented Raetta with this special award but gave her a one hundred dollar check to be donated to her favorite charity. ...

35 students ages 7-12 were enrolled in a two day "financial college" at Montgomery Bank on August 1st and 2nd. The Kid's Club members participated in a financial adventure to Spend City, Savings Island and ended with a Share Fair where the students participated in a fund raiser to benefit the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. The students raised over $400...

A website is listing Southeast Missouri State University among the nation's most affordable online values. AffordableCollegesOnline.org ranks Southeast 16th among 54 colleges across the country with distance learning options. The website is a resource for college affordability and financial aid information...

KENNETT, Mo. -- In a filled-to-capacity room, concerned residents and area health-care providers met at Bootheel Area Independent Living Services on Wednesday to address Medicaid expansion and reform. A Missouri panel known as the Citizens and Legislators Working Group on Medicaid Eligibility and Reform listened as people voiced concerns regarding the expansion of Medicaid and what reforms can be made to the system...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- James Franklin opens fall camp as Missouri's starting quarterback and one of the captains, too. Coach Gary Pinkel approves of the choices teammates made for all four captains. He emphasized after the first fall practice that the honor is no guarantee Franklin will be making the calls when the season begins...

The players are providing the star power in the Southeastern Conference's drive for an eighth-straight national title not those millionaire coaches. Hop in the backseat, Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier, and enjoy the ride. There's plenty of headliners on the field, starting at quarterback with Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Alabama's AJ McCarron and Georgia's Aaron Murray plus a bounty of dangerous receivers. Tailbacks Georgia's Todd Gurley and `Bama's T.J. Yeldon are superb sophomore runners...

Today is Friday, Aug. 2, the 214th day of 2013. There are 151 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Aug. 2, 1943, during World War II, U.S. Navy boat PT-109, commanded by Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy, sank after being rammed in the middle of the night by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri off the Solomon Islands. Two crew members were killed; Kennedy led the survivors to nearby islands until they could be rescued...

Referencing a front-page article of the Wednesday, March 26, edition of your paper concerning the empty spaces in downtown and how they have hurt the renewal efforts, I have thought long and hard on the cause of this myself. Amazingly, I've arrived at two simple reasons based on my personal dealings with the downtown area. These are: A) the city government and B) rental cost of office space. Let me address "B" first...

I can't begin to tell you how many of you good folks have come up to me in the past couple of weeks to tell me what a great idea I had. Recently, I wrote that Cape Girardeau, home of the Missouri state flag, has never capitalized on this piece of important state history. I suggested that if AT&T wants to build a 14-story cell tower downtown, then having a huge Missouri flag fluttering at the top would be at least one attempt to claim our rightful heritage...

We're so pleased to read that the Board of Regents at SEMO has approved the contracts for the River Campus expansion projects. This is a wonderful thing, and it will help this wonderful arts community continue to grow. My friends and family were recently talking about how great it is that Cape Girardeau is becoming known for its arts. And we all agree with the recent posts regarding the creation of a summer theater. We are so proud to live here...

This week the newspaper wrapped up its All-Southeast Missourian teams for the 2012-2013 school year. Over the year we recognized 114 athletes representing 19 schools. There were three boys teams, four girls teams and two combined teams. It's always impressive reading about the athletes. ...

DETROIT -- Pickup trucks may have led the charge, but strong sales of small cars in July showed demand for new vehicles is broad -- and not slowing down. Car sales grew in the first six months of this year, but not at the blistering pace of trucks and SUVs. Through June, full-size pickups were up 22.5 percent over the year before, while cars were up just 5 percent...

Verna L. Hobeck, 89, of Daisy passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at her home. She was born March 24, 1924, in Friedheim, to O.H. and Mellie Crites Brune. She and Milford Gale Hobeck were married Sept. 16, 1943. He passed away Oct. 5, 1995. Verna and Milford farmed many years in the Daisy community. Verna loved caring for her family. She especially liked gardening and canning. She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church at Friedheim...

Edgar H. Rellergert, 84, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at Chateau Girardeau. He was born May 29, 1929, in Old Appleton, son of August and Louise Trapp Rellergert. He and Marilyn J. Stroder were married Aug. 8, 1953, at St. Mary's Church in Cape Girardeau...

Shirley Lou Syx Voelker, 78, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Jackson Manor, surrounded by her family. She was born July 19, 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, daughter of Edward and Leona Dollie Warren Syx. Shirley was the youngest of 14 children. ...

TAMMS, Ill. — James L. Pettit of Waddy, Ky., formerly of Tamms, died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at Crestview Nursing Home in Shelbyville, Ky. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms.

John E. Simpher, 62, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 29, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Daughter to Jim and Deidre Lutkewitte of St. Louis, Mercy Hospital, 3:54 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Name, Ruth Ann "Ruthie." Weight, 7 pounds, 7 ounces. First child. Mrs. Lutkewitte is the daughter of Rick and Lynda King of Jackson. She is employed by Brown Shoe. Lutkewitte is the son of Jim and Maryalice Lutkewitte of St. Louis. He is employed by Met Life...

The Cape Girardeau City Council, without comment, moved ahead last night with plans for annexation of Interstate 55 right of way, despite objections raised by Chaffee, Mo., mayor Bob Capshaw; the council's action clears the way for the city to take court action in an effort to annex right of way on both sides of I-55, from north of the U.S. 61 north intersection in Cape Girardeau County, south to the municipal airport in Scott County...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Robbery Thefts Property damage Miscellaneous...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Assault Burglary Thefts Miscellaneous...

Father God, may we be quick to forgive others as you have forgiven us. Amen.

CLEVELAND -- The man convicted of holding three women captive in a house he turned into a prison and raping them repeatedly for a decade was sentenced Thursday to life without parole plus 1,000 years. Ariel Castro, 53, apologized to his victims in a rambling, defiant statement before he was sentenced. ...

Sawyer Brown, one of the most beloved and longest lasting groups in country music, will take to the stage for two high- energy shows at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau on Saturday. Known for hits such as "Betty's Bein' Bad" and "Step That Step," Sawyer Brown has been a fan favorite since the 1980s and is a mainstay of the country-music scene. ...

The exquisite paintings of special guest artist Wanakee Pugh will be on display during the First Friday reception at the Artist Studio. Pugh, a former top American model who has graced the covers of magazines including Vogue, Glamour and Ebony, will present her inspired oil and acrylic paintings -- landscapes along with figurative and contemporary abstracts...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Summer festival season visits Cobden this weekend, with the 76th yearly version of the Southern Illinois town's Peach Festival. Activities begin at 5 p.m. today and Saturday, with a carnival, beauty pageant, bingo, karaoke and live music, and plenty of peach cobbler. For more information call 618-893-2425 or visit cobdenil.com...

During the fall semester of 2013, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will host a new Thursday night movie and discussion series. Films will be screened at the Arts Council at 32 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau at 7 p.m., and discussion will follow. ...

The Lorimier Gallery and Gallery 100 of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will feature exhibits created by the Summer Art Academy through Aug. 31. Reception from 5 to 9 p.m. 32 N. Main St.; 334-9233 The Chapman Gallery The Chapman Gallery of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will highlight the work of Visual Arts Cooperative members...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A highly anticipated fall summit between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin could become a casualty of Moscow's defiant decision to grant temporary asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, the White House signaled Thursday after weeks of pressuring and pleading for his return to face prosecution...

CINCINNATI -- With their hitting slump a thing of the past, the Cardinals can relax and focus on getting back into first place. It's only a half-game away. David Freese set the tone with a bases-loaded double in the first inning, and Daniel Descalso hit two of the Cardinals' three homers on Friday night as St. Louis pulled away to a 13-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds...

Tony Samuel has been coaching football a long time but he said he never fails to get excited at this time of the year. "You always look forward to the start of fall camp," Samuel said. For Southeast Missouri State and Samuel, entering his eighth season in charge of the Redhawks, that time is upon them...

ST. LOUIS -- Moving practice indoors along with a fan festival gave the St. Louis Rams a chance to build some enthusiasm. Gave the rookies a feel for the stadium, too. Safety T.J. McDonald was a bit overwhelmed at first walking into the Edward Jones Dome in front of a crowd estimated at 15,000 before settling down to business Saturday for what essentially was another full-pad practice with little tackling...

CINCINNATI -- Jake Westbrook's sinker took too much of a dive. The right-hander had trouble with walks on Saturday night, helping the Cincinnati Reds break out of their week-long offensive funk with an 8-3 victory that evened their series against the St. Louis Cardinals...

Our boxer, Harley loves to play outside in the mud but still loves to play dress up with the girls after he's had a bath. PLEASE SUBMIT TO PET OF THE WEEK! THANK YOU!!!!!

Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, like in the last 2 years, has partnered with ICNA Relief ( Islamic Circle of North America Relief) to provide Free Backpacks to Cape Girardeau and surrounding areas. The Islamic Center has distributed over 1000 Free Back packs in the last 2 years. ...

CANTON, Ohio -- Forcefully and emotionally, Cris Carter summed up the 50th induction ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night. The seventh and final inductee from the Class of 2013, Carter honored dozens of people in his life who were "going into the Hall of Fame with me tonight," as he followed Jonathan Ogden, Dave Robinson, Larry Allen, Bill Parcells, Curley Culp and Warren Sapp in being inducted...

NEW YORK -- On the day Alex Rodriguez was the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft two decades ago, his high school coach predicted a flashy future. "He has a great work ethic, humility, confidence," Rich Hofman said. "He'll be an example for Seattle and Major League Baseball. I hope success will not spoil that."...

Today is Saturday, Aug. 3, the 215th day of 2013. There are 150 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 3, 1863, the first thoroughbred horse races took place at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y...

Voters in the Nell Holcomb School District yesterday approved a 94-cent tax increase, which will keep the district from bankruptcy; the measure had been turned down by voters twice before. Project engineers for the firm conducting a feasibility study on a proposed 8,500-acre recreational lake in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties advises the lake committee that preliminary results show there are no apparent problems with the proposed site...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Twenty-three members of an alleged local street gang were arrested early Friday in Sikeston during a warrant roundup called "Operation Safe Streets." The Sikeston Department of Public Safety Special Operations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control and interim Scott County prosecuting attorney Blake Pearson were brought together at the request of Sikeston Department of Public Safety director Drew Juden to investigate and combat street gang violence, beginning with a gang called the Brick Squad Monopoly.". ...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- The news of a brutal homicide -- one that could involve a motorcycle gang -- in their small, country town has residents of Bonne Terre on edge. Home to fewer than 10,000 people, Bonne Terre recently has been brought into the spotlight after authorities on July 25 discovered the body of Cape Girardeau resident Samuel "Tick" Francis, 38, in a septic tank. Francis had been missing since December...

Within the next year, Cape Girardeau and neighboring Perry County will likely see a loss of at least 500 jobs because Sabreliner Corp., Integrity Solution Services and PolyOne Corp. facilities have announced closings and layoffs of employees. But from a larger economic view, experts say the region may not feel those effects...

We see this doe regularly passing in front of our house. This time the doe's fawn came and nursed for several minutes.

The Lids 8U MO Bulls hosted the "The End of Summer Slam" in Chaffee, MO on Sunday, August 4. Area teams from Scott City, Sikeston, and 3 Jackson teams joined the Lids Bulls in a double elimination tournament. The Bulls played seven, back to back games, battling out of the losers' bracket to compete against Sikeston, whom hadn't lost a game. ...

LAS VEGAS -- The last person to be banned for life from baseball was having a pretty good day, with a steady stream of fans and customers dropping by his table just off the casino floor at the Mandalay Bay resort for a picture, an autograph and a few words...

From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, parents dropped by Alma Schrader Elementary School to look through the tables with neatly folded clothes, all marked at $1, $2, $3 or $5. "The maximum price is $5, so families will be able to get a nice amount of clothes without spending as much," organizer Kate Sanders said...

Voters in the Altenburg School District will decide Tuesday whether to approve an increase in their property tax levy to build a new school. Dubbed Proposition Safe Schools by the district, the measure would generate $1.9 million for a consolidated building to house kindergarten through eighth grade by raising the tax levy from 3.6 to 4.3 cents per $100 of assessed property value. ...

Today is Sunday, Aug. 4, the 216th day of 2013. There are 149 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 4, 1944, 15-year-old diarist Anne Frank was arrested with her sister, parents and four others by the Gestapo after hiding for two years inside a building in Amsterdam. (Anne died the following year at Bergen-Belsen.)...

Christine Agnes Ehrhard and Nicholas David Ostendorf were married July 6, 2013, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in St. Charles, Mo. The Rev. David Skillman and the Rev. Patrick Nwokoye celebrated the wedding Mass. The bride is the daughter of Herbert J. and Karen Ehrhard of St. Charles. The groom is the son of Ken and Mary Ostendorf of Cape Girardeau...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Randy Mayfield of Sedgewickville announces the engagement of his daughter, Lindsey Jo Mayfield, to Dylan Lee Abbott. He is the son of Harry and Jacqueline Abbott of Oak Ridge. Lindsey is also the daughter of the late Carol Mayfield...

BENTON, Mo. -- Michelle and Boyd Pattengill of Benton announce the engagement of their daughter, Brittney Elizabeth Heuring, to Brock Thomas Powers. He is the son of Teresa and Doug White of Puxico, Mo., and Michael Powers of The Woodlands, Texas. Brittney is also the daughter of the late Kenny Joe Heuring...

Brent and Diane Ashcraft of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Ellen Marie Ashcraft, to Christopher Stosh Lovett. He is the son of Jim and Taryn Lovett of Charleston, Mo. Ellen is a 2010 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School at Benton, Mo. She expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University in December. She is employed at SoutheastHEALTH and Montgomery Bank...

Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Sandfort of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise to Alaska, accompanied by their children and spouses. Moe and Patti were married Aug. 3, 1963, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Hahs of Oak Ridge celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception June 9, 2013, at New Salem United Methodist Church in Daisy. Hahs and Dorothy Langston were married June 9, 1963, at Whitewater Baptist Church in Whitewater...

Bolete mushrooms grow on the ground near trees, have umbrella-like caps and have pores rather than gills on the underside of the cap. There are many different kinds of bolete mushrooms in North America. Many of them are safe to eat when prepared properly, but some are poisonous and will make you very ill if eaten. Some boletes are small with caps no bigger than a nickel. Others, like the cluster I have photographed here, can be more than six inches tall and rather bulky...

The Bosom Buddies support group will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at HealthPoint in Cape Girardeau. The group is open to all women who have or had breast cancer. Guest speaker Scott Givens, manager of HealthPoint Fitness in Jackson, will help the group "Get Movin'" with simple exercises, so be sure to wear tennis shoes. For more information, call Barb McKeon at 573-334-7388...

The Jackson Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary presented 10 scholarships to area graduating seniors at its annual banquet. The Jackson Knights of Columbus and Ladies' Auxiliary are proud sponsors of scholarships every year to the four area high schools. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced the Perry Animal Welfare Society of Perryville has been awarded $2,000 in funding to assist in providing low-cost spay and neuter services. The funding comes from the Missouri Spay & Neuter Grant Program, which helps animal shelters, humane societies and not-for-profit rescue groups working to address pet overpopulation with the cost of spaying and neutering animals. ...

Back in 1982, Bruce Feirstein, a screenwriter and humorist whose credits include screenplays for the James Bond series and a brief stint as a writer for "Saturday Night Live," landed on The New York Times best-seller list and stayed there for more than a year with his tongue-in-cheek book, "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche."...

Summer produce is coming in, and the crop is plentiful. If you have a garden, you know the benefit and reward of growing your own. For some of us, the farmers markets and gifts from friends are how we obtain our fresh produce. Today, I have two recipes using fresh vegetables and a couple of chicken recipes, both using bacon as an ingredient, then a cool refreshing dessert recipe with which to finish...

Pet Name: Gidget Owner: Wade & Marilyn Clyburn Favorite activity: Being lazy. ...

Breezy is 1 year old and is spayed and declawed. She is available for adoption at the Humane Society. For more information call 334-5837. ...

Vegas is a sweet gray and white kitten. He is about 10 weeks old. He has short, but thick fluffy hair. Vegas loves to be held, and once you pick him up, you won't want to set him down. For more information, call Safe Harbor at 243-9823. ...

If you listen closely, you can hear a lot of things. Even when it's raining. In late July, our family spent a waterlogged week taking in general information sessions and tours of several colleges and universities in Massachusetts. On a wet Friday, while dodging numerous puddles, my wife and I trudged across the Harvard University campus wearing hastily purchased plastic ponchos, with our daughters either doing without or sporting a more useful umbrella. ...

Daily bread. Those are two of the words Jesus gives us to pray with in Luke 11:3. I've been praying and thinking about these simple words lately, and they are transforming my life. There are so many things in life I impatiently think I want or need, things that sidetrack me from opening my hands and free-falling into my Father's arms. Jesus' idea of prayer is so much simpler, though -- ask for my daily bread...

By Gary Clothier Question: My 8-year-old grandson, Brennan, has a question for you: How did Tuesday Morning stores get their name? C.V.H. and C.B., Lake Jackson, Texas Answer: Tuesday Morning is a discount gift and home accessory chain with its headquarters in Dallas. ...

NEW YORK -- There's extensive evidence that pigs are as smart and sociable as dogs. Yet one species is afforded affection and respect; the other faces mass slaughter en route to becoming bacon, ham and pork chops. Seeking to capitalize on that discrepancy, animal-welfare advocates are launching a campaign called The Someone Project that aims to highlight research depicting pigs, chickens, cows and other farm animals as more intelligent and emotionally complex than commonly believed. ...

Five murals decorate the ER and trauma center at Saint Francis Medical Center By Samantha Kluesner Scott County Signal

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's third annual Shootin' for St. Jude archery event is this week, and promoters are expecting it to be the biggest yet. "I'm so excited," said Miranda Fickert, captain of the Poplar Bluff St. Jude Heroes team. "It's grown every year, and we have so many supporters this year."...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Robert and Faye Kasten of Altenburg announce the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Morgan Kasten, to Gregory Tyler Wibbenmeyer. He is the son of Robert Wibbenmeyer of Uniontown, Mo., and Judilynn Sanzone of New York. Brooke is a registered nurse at SoutheastHEALTH...

FCE The 77th National Family and Community Education Conference was held July 18 through 21 in Fargo, N.D. Mary Klaproth with Town and Country FCE attended the conference. The theme was "Operation Readiness". Missouri received a first place award on the leadership notebook on disaster preparedness and the trifold and third place for the trifold for action and education...

The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, for those who aren't familiar, is a pretty big deal. This year's event, which begins Wednesday, is the 61st edition. In Sikeston, that means a weeklong celebration that includes several family-friendly activities...

I notice in the major news media that people are upset about Anthony Weiner, claiming how disgusted they are. What about Bill Clinton? When he did his thing, they had all these people on TV saying, "Oh, everybody does it." I saw on TV where they think the energy drinks the young kids are drinking may have caused some deaths. If that is true and there is proof of that, then why aren't these drinks taken off the market? Why are they still on the shelves for our young people to buy and drink?...

Missourians should pay little tax because they have little government and see no need for more. Government has an insatiable appetite for money. You've got it; they want it. As the vice chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, I have been through many hearings about our tax laws and have researched the issue extensively. ...

The key to a growing economy and creating more jobs is to keep taxes low and invest the resources we do have into quality education for every Missouri child. As an elected representative and a fiscal conservative, I have worked hard in the General Assembly to accomplish these goals on behalf of Missouri families. Over the past few years, we have cut taxes, reduced the size of state government and made record investments in our public schools...

Lord Jesus, we praise you, our loving God full of grace and truth. Amen.

ST. LOUIS -- A dog who was dragged nearly to death on Interstate 55 while tied to a pickup continues to heal and has endured seven surgeries. Staff at the Humane Society of Missouri named the pit bull puppy Trooper. He barely survived after being pulled for nearly a mile Nov. 21...

Charges against a Saudi national accused of paying his roommate to kill a Warrensburg, Mo., bar owner were dropped Friday after information from a critical witness changed, leaving the state with insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Ziyad Abid, 24, had been jailed since Sept. 5 on first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges. His case gained national attention when Circuit Judge Michael Wagner refused to release him after the Saudi Arabian government posted $2 million bail...

MARQUAND, Mo. -- Timothy Michael Frymire, 20, of Marquand died unexpectedly at his home Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill, Mo. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Grassy Friendship Cemetery...

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Lawrence Clifton, 95, of Columbus, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Aug. 2, 2013, at Kindred Columbus Health in Columbus. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville, Mo...

Twin sons to Cody Allen Crader and Autumn Emerald Davis of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, Saturday, June 1, 2013. Storm Allen was born at 1:46 p.m. and weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces. Skye Alexander was born at 1:47 p.m. and weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces. Ms. Davis is the daughter of Melissa Davis of Jackson. Crader is the son of Sheila Crader and Keith Crader of Jackson. He is employed at Gilster-Mary Lee...

Police chief Ray Johnson is resigning his position here to take a job as police chief for the newly incorporated city of Chesterfield, Mo., in St. Louis County; Johnson's resignation will be effective Aug. 26. CAIRO, Ill. -- The emergency center here has run out of funds; Community Health and Emergency Services Inc. will close its emergency center Monday; old St. Mary's Hospital, which later became Southern Medical Center, closed its doors in December 1986...

The Jackson Police Department responded to the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Arrests Burglaries Theft Property damage Summons Miscellaneous...

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. Arrests Summonses Thefts Assault Miscellaneous Cape Girardeau County The Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

MILWAUKEE -- Abortion is still legal but getting one in many states will be difficult if laws passed this year are upheld by the courts. In a march through conservative legislatures, anti-abortion Republicans passed a wave of new restrictions that would sharply limit when a woman could terminate a pregnancy and where she could go to do so...

DALLAS -- Hundreds of unarmed soldiers, some about to deploy to Afghanistan, were waiting inside a building for vaccines and routine checkups when a fellow soldier walked inside with two handguns and enough ammunition to commit one of the worst mass shootings in American history...

JACKSON, Miss. -- If a girl younger than 16 gives birth and won't name the father, a new Mississippi law -- likely the first of its kind in the country -- says authorities must collect umbilical cord blood and run DNA tests to prove paternity as a step toward prosecuting statutory rape cases...

ROME -- A Silvio Berlusconi loyalist warned on Saturday of a possible "civil war" if the ex-premier's punishment for tax-fraud conviction is not lifted, as his aides maneuvered to win a presidential pardon so he can avoid a prison term and a ban on holding public office...

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe election officials said President Robert Mugabe won the presidential election with 61 percent of the vote, compared to 33 percent for challenger Morgan Tsvangirai. Judge Rita Makarau, chairwoman of the official state election commission, announced results Saturday in which Mugabe's ZANU-PF party won 158 of the 210 parliament seats, giving it a two-thirds majority in the legislature that enables it to make amendments to the new constitution and existing laws...

WASHINGTON -- The United States issued an extraordinary global travel warning to Americans Friday about the threat of an al-Qaida attack and closed down 21 embassies and consulates across the Muslim world for the weekend. The alert was the first of its kind since an announcement preceding the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. ...

WASHINGTON -- An outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska has been linked to salad mix served at local Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants and supplied by a Mexican farm. The outbreak of cyclospora infections has sickened more than 400 people in 16 states. The Food and Drug Administration said it is working to determine whether the salad mix is the source of illnesses in the other 14 states...

Highway 25 in Cape County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs Monday. This section of road is from Route N to Jackson Street. Weather permitting, work will performed from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the work zone will be marked with signs. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Cleora T. Ernst, 97, of Perryville died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 to 9:15 a.m. Monday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The wake will be at 7 p.m. Sunday ...

Vicki Lynn Bridges, 58, of Fruitland died Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Aug. 26, 1954, in Limestone, Maine, to Donald Gene and Fannie Evelyn Craig Huffman. She and Daniel Joseph Bridges were married Dec. 11, 1986, in Cape Girardeau...

NEW YORK -- Comic and daytime television host Ellen DeGeneres was picked to host the Academy Awards for the second time. Show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced DeGeneres' selection Friday. The movie awards show will air March 2 on ABC...

Michael Albert Rodgers, 65, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at his home. He was born Feb. 27, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, to Albert Lee and Wiley Bernice Gilliland Rodgers. He married the former Jo Willard. Michael was a 1966 graduate of Central High School, and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He had a compassion for homeless animals and was an avid Cardinals baseball fan. He was a pilot for Canal Barge Co. of New Orleans, becoming a captain at the young age of 31...

TAMMS, Ill. -- James L. "Jim" Pettit Jr., 61, of Waddy, Ky., formerly of Tamms, passed away Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at Crestview Center in Shelbyville, Ky. He was born Sept. 7, 1951, at Dundee, Ill., son of the late James L. Pettit Sr. and Shirley Pettit...

ST. LOUIS -- The $380 million project to upgrade the grounds of the Gateway Arch officially began Friday as two members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet helped break ground. Construction is expected to begin as early as this week on a key component of the project: a park that will sit atop a concrete and steel structure bridging Interstate 70. ...

Michele Tapp, academic and career advising director at Southeast Missouri State University, gave a presentation at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee on Friday about REDConnect, an "intentional and targeted e-recruitment tool" that makes job hunting and hiring a little easier...

A special election set for Tuesday in Delta will let residents decide whether to spend up to $1 million worth of bonds for sewer and water system improvements for their community. The election is one of two in the area that will be held Tuesday. The other, in Altenburg, asks voters there to raise the property tax levy to pay for construction of a new school building...

Scott City MONDAY--Chicken tenders or meatloaf, baked potato, vegetables, roll, peaches or orange cake. TUESDAY--Scrambled eggs, sausage patties, hashbrowns, buiscuit & gravy, muffin, fruit salad. WEDNESDAY--Pasta with meat sauce or bell pepper steak, peas, salad, sugar free fruited gelatin or chocolate cake...

The scales at the Cape Girardeau Public Works' transfer station are undergoing unscheduled repairs. During the repair process, all loads brought to the transfer station will be charged $14.75 per cubic yard instead of charged by weight. Repairs will be completed as soon as possible. For more information, contact Public Works at 339-6351...

An amendment that would require congressional oversight on all federal regulations related to the Affordable Care Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 227 to 185 Friday. The amendment was sponsored by Rep. Jason Smith, of Missouri's 8th Congressional District...

A local dog is fast becoming a Facebook sensation. Mac, a 2-year-old pit bull, is the heart of a successful online-advocacy effort that has raised funds for the rescue of neglected pit bulls nationwide. "If I were offered $1 million for Mac, I wouldn't take it," said Rochelle Steffen, Mac's owner. "He's my Superman."...

The Rev. Joshua Tillman serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. He joined the church in May. Tillman's background in ministry includes a year serving in the Philippines with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. Bob Tebow is the father of Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Gene and Leola Bock of Uniontown, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Michelle Renee Bock, to Bruce Wayne House, both of Perryville. He is the son of Dennis and Joanne House of Perryville. Michelle is a graduate of Perryville High School and Southeast Missouri State University. She is a third grade teacher with Perry County School District...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez was suspended through 2014 and All-Stars Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera were banned 50 games apiece Monday when Major League Baseball disciplined 13 players in a drug case -- the most sweeping punishment since the Black Sox scandal nearly a century ago...

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, Utah -- A 73-year-old missing hiker from Missouri was found dead in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Wayne County sheriff's deputies say the man had been hiking alone and his body was found in Horseshoe Canyon on Saturday...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A 45-year-old Springfield man is $1 million richer after hitting five numbers in a Powerball drawing early last month. The Missouri Lottery announced last week that Christopher Scott bought the winning Quick Pick ticket for the July 6 drawing at a Springfield convenience store...

UNION, Mo. -- A 23-year-old Southeast Missouri man suspected in a road rage incident killed himself after being stopped by a Franklin County deputy. The Washington Missourian reported deputies were called about 9:20 p.m. Friday by a man who said he was being followed by someone who had previously assaulted him. The unidentified caller said the man was trying to force him off the road...

ST. LOUIS -- Police are trained to deal with the emotional trauma suffered by crime victims. St. Louis officers are being reminded to take care of themselves, too. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that since January, Jessica Meyers of the Crime Victim Advocacy Center of St. Louis has trained about 1,000 city officers. Last week, top commanders heard her presentation...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A.J. Hombs leads Pipsqueak into an open-top cage at the Swine Barn using his green pig whip while his twin sister, Olivia, douses handfuls of purple soap onto the hog. Pipsqueak squeals, attempting to escape, but 11-year-old A.J. stops the hog using his left hand and pulls out his hog hairbrush with the other hand, beginning to scrub its back. Soon after, Olivia turns on the water and rinses the back of the swine with a hose...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Some see a need and decide they want to adopt. Sikeston City Councilman Steven Burch abstained from a vote to establish an "adopt-a-camera" program in the city because of a conflict of interest: His business is the first to offer a camera to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

Norma Desmond didn't look ready for her close-up Sunday. In fact, she looked more like something out of an H.P. Lovecraft novel -- a misshapen brown lump with tentaclelike roots protruding from the bottom, indistinguishable from the pile of other misshapen brown lumps scattered across a table at the University of Missouri Extension Center...

CINCINNATI -- Even when things go horribly wrong on the road, the St. Louis Cardinals can always count on one soothing stop. No matter how deep their slump, it'll end in Cincinnati. Matt Carpenter broke his 0-for-23 slump with a bases-loaded double during the decisive rally, and the Cardinals ended a tough trip on the upswing by beating the Reds 15-2 on Sunday...

Cape Girardeau's city council today will consider first-round approval for a proposed downtown cellphone tower that has drawn some opposition. AT&T wants to build the 140-foot tower at 418 William St. In July, a local historian representing downtown residents said the project would "compromise the city's most historic districts," and could draw other companies toward building towers downtown...

took this photo on a hike at taum sauk mountain

About 150 people will be in Cape Girardeau this week to learn more about converting cars to run on electricity at the third annual Electric Vehicle Conversion Convention. The convention, scheduled for Tuesday through Sunday, will take place at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and the Arena Building. Attendees will be in for educational sessions and shopwork, but there also will be some time devoted to showing off nearly 45 electric vehicles to the public...

I caught this blue catfish in the Mississippi River near Dorena, Mo. ferry landing.It weighed 85lbs and measured 53 inches long. Caught on rod and reel.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. diplomatic posts in 19 cities in the Muslim world will be closed at least through the end of this week, the State Department said Sunday, citing "an abundance of caution." State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the decision to keep the embassies and consulates closed is "not an indication of a new threat."...

Today is Monday, Aug. 5, the 217th day of 2013. There are 148 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 5, 1953, Operation Big Switch began as remaining prisoners taken during the Korean War were exchanged at Panmunjom...

Old Town Cape took home three state-level awards from the Missouri Main Street Conference in Kansas City, Mo., last week. The Cape Riverfront Market was named the 2013 Top Special Event by the Missouri Main Street Organization, and the Broadway Corridor Project won the Missouri Main Street's Streetscape and Public Improvements award...

Answer to beach closings: Have you ever thought about your Congress members you voted in who are now taking five weeks' vacation? Figure out how much that is costing with the entire membership they have. This is beside all the time they have taken off before for all the holidays, let alone their campaigning. What have they got to show for it? Not one good thing...

Clifford Wiseman, 83, of Scott City died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Clarence Allen "Willie" Mayfield, 79, of Jackson, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson...

Raymond "Lefty" Hecht, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown...

Betty Jean Boyd, 91, of Perryville, Mo., died Aug. 3, 2013, at Independence Care Center of Perry County in Perryville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at Young & Sons Funeral Home, with an American Legion Auxiliary wake Tuesday evening...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kent J. Bohnert, 81, of Perryville died Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, at Independence Care Center of Perry County in Perryville. He was born Jan. 30, 1932, in Longtown, Mo., son of Herman and Frieda Kiefer Bohnert. He and Jeannette Evans were married Oct. 24, 1953. She survives in Perryville...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- More than 8,000 marijuana plants with a street value estimated at $8 million were seized yesterday in the Mark Twain National Forest north of Poplar Bluff; the seizure didn't result in any arrests, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

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

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Friday:...

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

About two months before my 16th birthday, I found a job making sandwiches. There was nothing school could have taught me that I learned from a handful of teenage boys, adults who had lived a rough life and being one of the few who had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Not a specific idea -- I just knew I was going to college...

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwean church leaders urged Sunday worshippers to pray for peace after disputed elections gave longtime President Robert Mugabe a landslide victory in the presidential and parliamentary vote. The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe asked its followers Sunday to wait for "dialogue to resolve outstanding issues with self-control and tolerance."...

BEIRUT -- Iran's new president expressed his country's support of Syria's embattled leader Bashar Assad's regime Sunday, saying no force in the world will be able to shake their decades-old alliance. Hasan Rouhani's comments came as Syrian troops and rebels fought some of the fiercest battles in the mountains of the coastal province of Latakia, an Assad stronghold...

NEW YORK -- With its first smartphone designed completely in-house, Google is demonstrating one of the benefits of moving production from Asia to the U.S.: It's letting buyers customize phones to give them their own style. Workers at the factory in Fort Worth, Texas, assemble the custom phone and Google will ship it to the buyer's door within four days...

CLEVELAND -- A man condemned to death for fatally stabbing a neighbor during a Cleveland burglary was found hanged in his cell Sunday, just days before his Wednesday execution. Billy Slagle, 44, was found at about 5 a.m. at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution south of Columbus and was declared dead within the hour, prison spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said...

MIAMI -- This wasn't the revolution the tea party had in mind. Four years ago, the movement and its potent mix of anger and populism persuaded thousands of costumed and sign-waving conservatives to protest the ballooning deficit and President Obama's health-care law. It swept a crop of no-compromise lawmakers into Congress and governor's offices and transformed political up-and-comers, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, into household names...

OAK CREEK, Wis. -- Six weeks after a white supremacist gunned down Pardeep Kaleka's father and five others at a Sikh temple last year, Kaleka was skeptical when a former skinhead reached out and invited him to dinner. But Kaleka accepted, and he's grateful he did. ...

LOS ANGELES -- The driver parked outside a hotel and surveyed the leisurely summer scene at the Venice Beach boardwalk: Hundreds of people were sitting at cafes, walking along the seashore or shopping at vendors selling jewelry or art. Then, according to surveillance video, the man entered a large black car, steered around a vehicle barrier and accelerated mercilessly through the crowd, hitting one person after another as bystanders tried desperately to get out of the way...

Hall-of-fame manager Jess Bolen didn't consider this year's Plaza Tire Capahas team to be one of his more talented squads. You sure couldn't tell it by the Capahas' performance on the field. The Capahas put together one of the better regular seasons during Bolen's fantastic 47-year run leading one of the nation's oldest amateur baseball teams...

A second source said an announcement concerning the three-time AL MVP willl be made this morning

AKRON, Ohio -- They say par is a good score in a major. If that's true this week at the PGA Championship, then Tiger Woods already has done his share of preparation. Woods played safe and smart with a big lead, parring 16 holes in an even-par 70 on Sunday to coast to a seven-shot victory at the Bridgestone Invitational for his eighth win at the event -- matching the PGA Tour record he already shared for victories in a single tournament...

WASHINGTON -- John Palmer, a veteran reporter for NBC News who covered wars and Washington during a career that spanned 40 years, died Saturday after a brief illness at a Washington hospital. Palmer's wife Nancy confirmed he died at George Washington University Hospital of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 77...

Watkins named education director at Metro Business College Metro Business College is pleased to announce the promotion of Leslie Watkins as the new education director. Watkins will be responsible for regulatory compliance and regulations, class scheduling for all students, curriculum development and faculty supervision. ...

Old Town Cape announced in a news release that it brought home three state-level awards from the Missouri Main Street Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The Cape Riverfront Market was named the 2013 Top Special Event by the Missouri Main Street Organization. The category recognized successful events that attracted new visitors to downtown and involves families, with emphasis on downtown as the centerpiece of the community, according to the release...

Daughter to Bradley James and Lena Renee Clark of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 2:15 a.m. Friday, July 26, 2013. Name, Ali Renee. Weight, 7 pounds, 7 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Clark is the former Lena Simminger, daughter of Doug and Tammy Simminger of Gordonville. She is a teacher at Altenburg, Mo., Public School. Clark is the son of Greg Clark of Scott City. He is employed by BMAC Construction...

O Heavenly Father, may your power be made known to all in our weakness. Amen.

Cape Girardeau native Vince Friese finished in ninth place at the men's Moto X Racing final Saturday at the ESPN X Games in Los Angeles. Friese covered the indoor layout at the Staples Center in 8 minutes, 29.528 seconds. Justin Brayton won the event in 7:59.90...

Dodi Conrad always loved art, but it wasn't until middle age that she began taking classes. In fact, she became so accomplished as an artist that the former cosmetologist painted a whole new career for herself. She now has a gallery in her Marble Hill, Mo., home, teaches classes and completes work on commission...

The 14th annual Southeast Missouri Senior Games in Perryville, Mo., are set for Aug. 21 to 24, and event organizers promise a good time for athletes as well as spectators. "The great thing about watching the Senior Games is seeing their motivation and watching them have that interaction," says Chad Unterreiner, league and fitness coordinator at the Perry Park Center, where most events will be held. "It's all for fun, but there's a competitive nature to it."...

Ever tried putting 155 candles on a cake? That's what the residents of Pocahontas will be doing as 2013 marks the town's birthday. Pocahontas is surrounded by picturesque rolling hills in Northern Cape Girardeau County, approximately nine miles north of Jackson. Farms and homes dot the scenic hillsides in this unique part of the heartland less than 10 miles from the Mississippi River...

Imagine being woken by a phone call in the middle of the night. It's your crying grandchild, who is asking for money because of an accident. Of course you want to help your loved one, so you do whatever you can in this emergency situation. You open your wallet without hesitation...

Homeowner Christine Igot knows one thing for sure. "I will not have a fridge in my kitchen ever again," she says firmly. In the new house she's building, in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, the 51-year-old is putting the refrigerator in a pantry off the kitchen and will double insulate the walls. Why? All that noise, noise, noise...

A door squeezed between two businesses on North Main Street in Cape Girardeau opens into a 34 foot long and 6 foot wide room filled with an array of necklaces, brooches and beads, Claire Bruce, owner and designer of Sloan + Themis, 31 C N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, didn't begin her career working with beads or designing jewelry. Bruce started in the technical industry after graduating with a degree in engineering from Vanderbuilt University...

For baby boomers and beyond, a lot has changed since they first received their driver's license, from car technology and traffic rules, to even road conditions. Many older drivers are taking a proactive approach to staying safe on the road. ...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A wet August could get even wetter across much of Missouri in the coming days, raising new flooding concerns. National Weather Service hydrologist Mark Fuchs says an unstable weather pattern is expected to continue for at least the next week or so, potentially causing more rivers and creeks to rise above their banks...

A flash flood watch is in effect for much of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois from midnight to 6 p.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service said in the watch issued Tuesday that an unusual weather system for this time of year has resulted in additional moisture in the atmosphere. The heaviest rain is expected east of the Mississippi River, but rain that has already soaked Southeast Missouri could contribute to flash flooding there. Rainfall is expected to begin overnight...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A 31-year-old Joplin man has admitted lying about his residence to get federal disaster assistance after the May 2011 tornado. Andy Eric Brownlee was indicted in December on a charge of fraudulently receiving about $2,700 in federal benefits. The U.S. attorney's office said he pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Springfield...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri officials say more than 1,300 Medicaid participants had some of their personal information mailed to incorrect addresses. The Department of Social Services said Monday a software programming error led to the wrong mailings by a contractor called Infocrossing Inc...

The civil case against one of the drivers in a fatal box-truck crash has been continued to November, a Cape Girardeau County circuit judge said. Christian Fisher filed a wrongful-death suit April 25 against Bobby Joe Abernathy, his employer, Slumberland Furniture, and Slumberland's parent company, Sleepy Hollow Furniture, court records show...

The hours of operation at Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center will be reduced effective Aug. 14 because of schools going back into session. According to a news release issued by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, the last day of summer hours will be Aug. 13. Cape Splash will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. The aquatic center will close for the season at 6 p.m. Sept. 2...

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Dr. Richard Farmer takes his dog Little Bit for a stroll near the site of Cape Giardeau's old Mississippi River bridge, Monday, August 5, 2013. ...

The attorney for a Cape Girardeau man accused of killing his wife and son filed motions Monday for a change of judge and a change of venue. George Joseph, 48, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Mary, and 18-year-old son, Matthew, before turning the gun on himself May 30 at their home on West Cape Rock Drive...

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Tyree Wright frames up a tight shot of roses near the Mississippi River overlook Monday in Cape Girardeau. ...

NEW YORK -- Defiant till the end, Alex Rodriguez is intent on evading baseball's most sweeping punishment since the Black Sox scandal. Rodriguez was suspended through 2014 and All-Stars Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera were banned 50 games apiece Monday when Major League Baseball disciplined 13 players for their relationship to Biogenesis of America, a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs...

Voters in the Altenburg School District and Delta will head to the polls today to decide on ballot issues that would fund construction projects, if approved. Altenburg School District voters will decide on an increase to the property tax levy from 3.6 cents to 4.3 cents per $100 of assessed property value, while Delta voters will decide on a $1 million bond issue for sewer and water system improvements. ...

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com This pedestrian bridge at Dennis Scivally Park is seen Monday, Aug. ...

Cape Girardeau soon could receive federal assistance in its search for a solution to the sinkhole problem. Cape Girardeau County was one of many in the state to qualify for federal reimbursement after a federal emergency declaration was approved July 19. Missouri State Emergency Management Agency officials already have met once with public entities in the county to help them identify projects that would repair damage caused in June by major flooding...

About 40 people -- some with questions, others, concerns -- attended a public hearing Monday night before the city council's consideration of rezoning a tract of land planned to become a business park on the northwest side of Cape Girardeau...

Several downtown residents and proponents of historic preservation voiced their opposition to placement of a 140-foot tall AT&T cellphone tower on William Street during Monday night's city council meeting, but a first-round approval moved through as proposed...

Thirty full-time employees have been laid off and some temporary positions have been eliminated from the Havco facility in Scott City, effective last Friday, Havco president and CEO Bruce Bader said Monday. Havco manufactures hardwood flooring for trailers, truck bodies and containers, including intermodal domestic containers. The overseas demand for the flooring Havco provides for intermodal domestic containers weakened, causing the layoffs, he said...

Authorities in Alexander County, Ill., have ended their investigation into the death of a Cape Girardeau man who apparently drowned last month after a visit to a local nightclub. The body of Joey Caruso, 24, was pulled from the Mississippi River near the Southeast Missouri Port Authority on July 15, two days after he failed to return from a night out with friends at The Pony nightclub, police reported...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Twenty-four years after a 14-year-old girl disappeared from near her Fredericktown home, leads still trickle in concerning the disappearance of Gina Dawn Brooks. Gina was last seen Aug. 5, 1989. She is presumed dead, but her remains were never found...

This Saturday is Anne Smith Messy Day at Scott City Park, 10:00am to 1:00. This is a free day for the kids, tons of fun! It is FREE!!! The first 100 kids under 13 will receive a free t-shirt. Plan on your kids getting dirty and having a blast!!! This day is in honor of my wonderful mother-in-law who wanted something for kids to do in this town....She passed away two years ago and this day is in her honor. ...

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 6, the 218th day of 2013. There are 147 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths...

The Motor Vessel Mississippi will make a stop along the Mississippi River riverfront on Aug. 17 in Cape Girardeau, according to a news release from the Army Corps of Engineers. Tours of the vessel will be offered to the public at no cost, and an open house aboard the largest diesel towboat operating on the Mississippi River will be hosted from 9 a.m. ...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Imagine having a child who was born with cataracts and brain damage, and develops dementia and other ailments more often found in the elderly -- and not knowing what would cause such ailments. Parents who share such experiences because their children have the rare genetic disease Cockayne syndrome recently gathered with their families near Washington so their children could meet others like themselves. ...

NEW YORK -- President Obama, the joke's on you. A study of gags by late-night comics during the first half of the year found an abrupt change from 2012. Now, Obama and Democrats are providing the lion's share of punch lines. Obama was the target of 288 monologue jokes made by Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel, according to an analysis that was released Monday by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University...

For the first time, government advisers are recommending screening for lung cancer, saying certain current and former heavy smokers should get annual scans to cut their chances of dying of the disease. If it becomes final as expected, the advice by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force would clear the way for insurers to cover CT scans, a type of X-ray, for those at greatest risk...

An influential group of government advisers has endorsed lung cancer screening for the first time -- but not for everybody. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is proposing annual CT scans, a type of X-ray, for certain current and former smokers...

It's not a busy Election Day for most of our Southeast Missouri coverage area, but voters in a couple areas will go to the polls to decide on two issues. Voters in the Altenburg School District will choose whether to approve a property-tax increase. Under the measure, the tax levy would increase from 3.6 cents to 4.3 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The $1.9 million raised by the increase would go toward a new building for kindergarten through eighth grade...

It's fun to watch local baseball games during the summer months, including the Plaza Tire Capahas. With a history of successful campaigns, this year's squad recently wrapped up its season at the National Baseball Congress World Series. After an impressive regular season in which the team compiled a 28-3 record, the Capahas went 4-2 at the tournament in Wichita, Kan...

The Mississippi Peace Cruise, with citizens from the Soviet Union and the United States, passes Cape Girardeau in the morning; a crowd of about 200 gathered along the riverboat to greet participants; the Delta Queen can't stop here because of the low water in the river, but a launch delivers souvenirs to the cruisers on board...

Wow. July was an exceptionally busy month. We had a record-breaking July Fourth Independence Day celebration in the city park. This was a cooperative effort of the Independence Day Committee, many of the city's departments, members of many organizations such as the Capaha Car Club, Elks, Jackson High School girls volleyball team, muny band and many additional volunteers. We appreciate all their time and effort, and we appreciate all those who came to help us celebrate...

When Olympic champion and U.S. national titleholder Amanda Beard jumps into the pool as a professional athlete, her focus is on keeping herself healthy and at the top of her game. When she jumps into the pool as a mom, the most important thing is keeping her family healthy and safe...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Sunday:...

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

CAIRO -- Top U.S., European and Arab envoys visited a jailed Muslim Brotherhood leader Monday on a mission to ease tensions between Egypt's military-backed government and supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. No details of the meeting emerged, but a European Union official spoke of confidence-building measures, and the two rival camps appeared to be facing critical choices 33 days after the military overthrew democratically elected Morsi...

WASHINGTON -- Just as drinking and driving can be deadly, so can drinking and walking. More than a third of the pedestrians killed in 2011 had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit for driving, according to government data released Monday...

WASHINGTON -- You can now open your own personal "Obamacare" account -- but you'll have to wait awhile before you can actually use it to pick a health insurance plan. Just eight weeks before the Oct. 1 launch of open enrollment under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, administration officials announced Monday that the Affordable Care Act is a step closer to reality for millions of uninsured Americans...

WASHINGTON -- For many House conservatives, President Barack Obama's decision to delay a central provision of his health-care law has emerged as a major arguing point -- not against that law but in opposition to immigration legislation. In the weeks since the announcement that employers won't have to provide health insurance for another year, complaints have increased among House Republicans that they can't trust the Obama administration to implement any law they pass. ...

LILLINGTON, N.C. -- Alonzo Lunsford has trouble getting out of chairs and warns his family to wake him gently. Kathy Platoni can't shake the image of the man who died in a pool of blood at her knees. Shawn Manning still has two bullets in his body and gets easily unnerved by crowds...

LONDON -- They bit, they chewed, but had hoped for more flavor. Two volunteers who participated in the first public frying of hamburger grown in a lab said Monday that it had the texture of meat but was short of flavor because of the lack of fat...

WASHINGTON -- An intercepted secret message between al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri and his deputy in Yemen about plans for a major terror attack was the trigger that set off the current shutdown of many U.S. embassies, two officials said. A U.S. ...

Son to Alex Mitchell and Hannah Marie Gremaud of Perryville, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, 12:38 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2013. Name, Nolan Oliver. Weight, 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Gremaud is the former Hannah Geile, daughter of Ruth Geile and Kevin Geile of Perryville. She is a medical assistant with Gastroenterologist Specialists at Saint Francis. Gremaud is the son of Tim Gremaud and Cathy Gremaud of Perryville. He is a farmer with Gremaud Ag...

Southeast offically began preparations for its Aug. 29 opener

Los Angeles won the opener of the four-game series 3-2 to extend its road streak to 15 games

Clifford Wiseman, 83, of Scott City died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 12, 1929, in Lone Oak, Ark., to Mae Baker. He married Linda Sue Robbins on June 10, 1982, at Benton, Mo. Clifford was a farmer and attended Church of God in Cape Girardeau...

Carolyn J. Rybicki, 75, of Millersville died Sunday, July 21, 2013, in Cape Girardeau. Service was July 30 at Adduci-Zimny Funeral Home in Posen, Ill. Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery.

Clarence Allen "Willie" Mayfield, 79, of Jackson and formerly of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. He was born Oct. 25, 1933, in Mayfield, Mo., son of Dale and Alpha Allen Mayfield. He and Margaret Ann Clippard were married April 2, 1977. She preceded him in death Oct. 10, 2011...

Work is weather permitting. Work zones 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 modot.org/southeast. -- From the Missouri Department of Transportation...

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming that we may have eternal life through you. Amen.

A good year of minor league baseball has gotten better for former Southeast Missouri State and Scott City High School standout Shae Simmons. Simmons, in his second season with the Atlanta Braves organization, was promoted to the Mississippi Braves on Monday. Mississippi is Atlanta's Class AA affiliate located in Pearl, Miss...

After a morning of storms and heavy downpours, Wednesday could be drying up. The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky. canceled a flash flood watch for today that included all of Southeast Missouri and parts of Southern Illinois and reported that the "heavy rain [has] exited the area with only light rain in its wake."...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- The first sign of trouble came from a gurgling noise emanating from the sink, bathtub and toilet in Katie Knight's home. She looked out the window early Tuesday to see floodwaters already lapping at her back deck. "I panicked," said Knight, a 31-year-old disabled Army veteran. "It's an eerie feeling when you see waters rising, because you are at the mercies of God's hands."...

Voters in Delta on Tuesday authorized a bond issue that will allow for $1 million in sewer and water improvements. Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers said the issue passed with an unofficial total of 38 "yes" votes to 23 "no" votes. The 61 voters who turned out were a small portion of the 296 people eligible to vote in the special election...

TobyMac, six-time Grammy winner and multi-platinum selling artist, will be bringing his "Hits Deep" tour to the Show Me Center on Dec. 13. According to a Show Me Center news release, the tour will feature a slightly new multi-artist lineup showcasing songs performed by TobyMac along with other Christian music artists, including Brandon Heath, Mandisa, Jamie Grace and Colton Dixon. The tour's theme and multi-artist package will undoubtedly make for some special moments on stage, the release said...

ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Beltran and his St. Louis teammates weren't focused on the Los Angeles Dodgers' road winning streak. They were just trying to continue their own hot play of late. That plan worked to perfection as Beltran and Matt Adams homered in the eighth inning to help the Cardinals snap the Dodgers' 15-game road run with a 5-1 victory Tuesday night...

A Cedar Hills, Mo., man faces a felony charge for a Monday incident involving a video-recording device in a women's restroom. Frank F. Fuchs, 52, faces one count of invasion of privacy, a Class D felony, after his arrest at the Silver Springs Office Complex at 351 S. Silver Springs Road...

Altenburg will not be building a new school anytime soon, voters in the school district decided Tuesday. Unofficial vote totals from the Perry County Clerk's office showed a proposed increase in the school tax levy for the district failed 356-227. Proposition Safe Schools, according to district officials, would have generated $1.9 million for the construction of a consolidated building to house kindergarten through eighth grade. ...

A Cape Girardeau man now faces 15 felony charges in two counties in connection with a series of cases in which he is accused of defrauding nine people of $567,500. Keith Monia, 52, already faced two counts each of forgery and financial exploitation of the elderly and a civil suit in connection with a pair of cases in which he is accused of defrauding three people of about $300,000 by telling them he was going to invest the money in annuities for them...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville Board of Aldermen approved the first reading Tuesday of an ordinance providing for a ballot measure to change the way the city selects its police chief. Under state law, Perryville -- which is incorporated as a fourth-class city -- must elect a city marshal to serve as chief unless voters decide to let city leaders appoint a chief instead...

Two Medicine Lake near the east entrance to Glacier National Park.

Who wants a smiling lab? Maverick is 1 1/2yrs old. He is available for adoption at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, 573-334-5837. See more pets available at semopets.org.

The Red Hot Bowlers team earned 2nd place trophies in the 2013 annual VIP Summer Bowling League. Congratulations to all of the participants!

The Dream Team earned 1st place trophies for their high scores in the 2013 VIP Summer Bowling League. Congratulations to all of this year's participants!

My ever so strange cat Chloe sleeping on the back of the couch where the sun shines in the window, odd way to sleep but glad i caught the shot!

This photo was taken after some intense storms that rolled through in July, caught the rainbow and clouds above the field across from our house. Beautiful

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals rookie Shelby Miller was struck by Carl Crawford's liner on his right elbow on his second pitch of the game, cutting short his start on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 22-year-old Miller held his arm in pain as he walked off the field accompanied by a team trainer. Crawford's liner bounded into shallow left field for a double and Miller bent over in pain while getting the elbow massaged...

Back-to-school is right around the corner, along with the morning scramble that most families endure as they get everyone ready and out the door on time for school and work. Do the kids have their backpacks? Are they wearing clean clothes? Did we feed the dog? Did we feed the kids? Are the kids full, focused, and ready to do their best in school? If they miss breakfast, they may not be...

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 7, the 219th day of 2013. There are 146 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 7, 1782, Gen. George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart, a decoration to recognize merit in enlisted men and noncommissioned officers...

When the CVS pharmacy makes its parking lot, I hope they put in some islands that have trees in them. I love Rush Limbaugh and congratulate him on his 25th anniversary. I flat out guarantee you that if it wouldn't have been for him, we would never have had, not one, but two President Obama terms...

Area students soon will be back in school for the fall semester, including those attending classes at the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education. Recently the Southeast Missourian reported on the future of the partnership, a coordinated effort between Southeast Missouri State University, Mineral Area College and Three Rivers College...

EUREKA, Mo. -- Aldermen in the St. Louis County town of Eureka are considering a plan to allow limited deer hunting at Six Flags St. Louis. KMOX Radio reported the proposal would allow Six Flags employees to hunt deer with bows and arrows on land around the amusement park during deer hunting season...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A Missouri man is facing charges after apparently fainting in court, then escaping custody following observation at a hospital. The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Mo., reported that 24-year-old Timothy James Hawkins of Mexico, Mo., is charged with escape from confinement...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A suspicious fire that destroyed a mosque in Joplin has brought new friends and a stronger sense of belonging for the city's Muslims, who are continuing with plans to rebuild inside the city, some members of the mosque said. The Islamic Society of Joplin Mosque was destroyed by fire Aug. 6, 2012. Although investigators have not determined the cause of that fire, another fire that damaged the mosque July 4, 2012, was ruled an arson...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Missouri judge has ordered the Department of Natural Resources to delay issuing a wastewater permit for a proposed horse slaughter facility until he gets a chance to hear a lawsuit alleging runoff from the plant could contaminate water and soil...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- The first sign of trouble came from a gurgling noise emanating from the sink, bathtub and toilet in Katie Knight's home. She looked out the window early Tuesday to see floodwaters already lapping at her back deck. "I panicked," said Knight, a 31-year-old disabled Army veteran. "It's an eerie feeling when you see waters rising, because you are at the mercies of God's hands."...

FORT HOOD, Texas -- The Army psychiatrist accused in the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood targeted fellow soldiers in a meticulously planned attack that included stockpiling bullets and researching Taliban leaders calling for jihad, a military prosecutor said Tuesday during the opening day of the long-awaited trial...

SANAA, Yemen -- A suspected U.S. drone killed four alleged al-Qaida members Tuesday in Yemen, as the U.S. and British embassies evacuated staff amid reports of a threatened attack by the terrorist group. As Yemen bolstered security by sending tanks and troops into the streets of Sanaa, the capital, militants shot down an army helicopter, killing all eight people aboard, the government said...

CAMPBELLTON, New Brunswick -- A 100-pound python blamed in the strangling deaths of two Canadian boys apparently escaped from its pet store enclosure, slithered through a ventilation system and fell through the ceiling into the room where the young brothers were sleeping, the shop owner said Tuesday...

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is proposing to overhaul the nation's mortgage finance system, including shutting down government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- a plan with bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. Obama will also insist popular 30-year mortgages be widely available to borrowers, even in a system that would rely more on the private sector than the government to guarantee loans...

Twin sons to Cody Allen Crader and Autumn Emerald Davis of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, Saturday, June 1, 2013. Storm Allen was born at 2:46 p.m. and weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces. Skye Alexander was born at 2:47 p.m. and weighed 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Ms. Davis is the daughter of Melissa Davis and Josh Black of Jackson. Crader is the son of Sheila Crader and Keith Crader of Jackson. He is employed by Gilster-Mary Lee...

The Rev. Fred Roberts of Durban, South Africa, is guest speaker in the morning at New Life World Outreach Center; Roberts has pastored churches and conducted evangelistic crusades and rallies for more than 23 years. The Rev. Larry W. Myers, a native of the congregation and school of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, has assumed a position in the Department of Exegetical Theology (New Testament) at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis; he is the son of Willard and Wilma Myers...

BENTON, Mo. -- One of four suspects in a Sikeston, Mo., kidnapping waived arraignment Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to charges of felonious restraint and second-degree assault. Cody James McRoy, 19, of Sikeston is accused of kicking and punching a man who claims he was kidnapped and beaten last month, according to court documents...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY The Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety released the following item. Theft...

John E. Simpher, 62, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 29, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born March 24, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, to Edward V. and Geneva Gibson Simpher. John had been a medical technician and also a visiting nurse. Survivors include a sister, Linda Coomer of Chaffee, Mo.; and two nephews...

Dorothy Marie Jany Kerkhover, 84, formerly of Chester, Ill., and Perryville, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 16, 1929, in St. Louis, to Mathew and Angela Saale Devos. She and Herman M. Jany of Chester were married June 27, 1953. He preceded her in death in 1984. Dorothy and Louis J. Kerkhover of Chester were married in April 1986, with 16 years of marriage before Louis' death in 2002...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Francis Henry "Frank" Hoormann, 64, of Farmington passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. He was born Nov. 10, 1948, in St. Charles, Mo., son of the late Frank Bernard and LaVerne Koester Hoormann. Frank grew up in Florissant, Mo., where he graduated from St. ...

Raymond Martin "Lefty" Hecht, 89, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Shawneetown, died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home. He was born May 23, 1924, in Altenburg, Mo., to Martin and Clara Weseloh Hecht. He and Helen Louise Pfeiffer were married April 24, 1949. She died May 27, 2006...

Kim A. Eifert, 59, of Scott City died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Billy Wayne Cook, 82, of Marble Hill passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, at his home. He was born Sept. 11, 1930, in Hornersville, Mo., son of Thomas Franklin and Sin Garland Cook. He and Margie Devenport were married Aug. 6, 1951...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will make stops at the end of August in East Prairie, Mo., and Cairo, Ill., to discuss the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project with the public, about a month after it posted its latest draft of an environmental-impact statement on the project...

ST. LOUIS -- The elevator where a St. Louis musician fell to his death was registered with the state of Missouri but an operating certificate had not been issued. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reviewed the Missouri Department of Public Safety database after Bob Reuter's death Saturday. Reuter, a musician and radio show host, died after falling down an elevator shaft while moving into a downtown loft...

ST. LOUIS -- Just like last year, from the beginning of training camp the St. Louis Rams have been preparing two high draft picks to start on defense. They're hoping to get similar production from this year's duo. "I feel confident I can do it, and it feels good to know they feel the same way," free safety T.J. McDonald said after practice Tuesday night. "Not every play is perfect, but one thing I can control is my hustle...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Shortly before spring camp started in April, Missouri offensive lineman Evan Boehm approached coach Gary Pinkel with a request. "I asked for a chance to move to center and show him what I have," Boehm said. Pinkel obliged and apparently liked what he saw after allowing the former left guard to take snaps during scrimmages. With the season opener against Murray State less than four weeks away, Boehm is Missouri's projected starter at center...

Work is weather permitting. Work zones 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 modot.org/southeast. -- From the Missouri Department of Transportation...

Father God, we pray for discernment, that in all things we would glorify you. Amen.

Jack Litzelfelner of Jackson was selected the Missouri Golf Association's player of the year in the boys 14-18 division. Litzelfelner won his age division at the Missouri Junior Amateur Championship in July and most recently won a pair of MGA junior events in Columbia, Mo., and Fulton, Mo...

Keith Monia has been charged with 15 felonies in two Southeast Missouri counties stemming from an investigation into his financial dealings. He is accused of taking more than $560,000 from nine people -- two couples and five individuals -- since early September 2007. Here is a synopsis of the charges against him:Cape Girardeau County...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri man accused of killing a tattoo artist and hiding the remains in a septic tank is also facing federal drug trafficking charges. The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Mo. (http://bit.ly/16uxaJR ) reports that Melvin John Scherrer of Bonne Terre was charged last month in federal court with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine...

If weather permits, the City of Cape Girardeau plans to open Cape Splash at 1 p.m. today. The water park facility is closed this morning due to the rain. For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 339-6340.

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A southwest Missouri woman died after another round of torrential downpours caused flash flooding that swept away her car, authorities said Thursday. McDonald County emergency management director Greg Sweeten said the woman died early Thursday when water from normally dry Brush Creek suddenly overwhelmed Route 90 near the town of Jane, Mo., flooding the road up to 6 feet deep...

ROLLA, Mo. -- Heavy thunderstorms early Wednesday hit already saturated areas of south-central Missouri, where one child has been reported killed and a woman remains missing in flooding that forced the closure of major highways and a handful of evacuations...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Benton woman was arrested on felony drug charges after a Tuesday search of her home, according to a news release from the Scott County Sheriff's Department. Sharon Daniels, 53, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, the news release said...

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission is soliciting comments on a proposed railroad crossings project. The commission is considering a proposal to improve existing railroad crossings in Perry, New Madrid, Scott and Pemiscot counties in or near McBride, Marston, Matthews, Sikeston and Hayti...

ST. LOUIS -- A judge's review of a murder case has found flaws in the prosecution but not enough to prove the innocence of a death row inmate convicted of killing two sisters by throwing them off a St. Louis-area bridge. Reginald Clemons, 41, has been on Missouri's death row for 20 years. ...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A Florida prison inmate says he knows what happened to a St. Louis-area boy who disappeared 25 years ago, and authorities in Missouri are trying to determine if his story is legitimate. Scott Kleeschulte of St. Charles was 9 when he disappeared on June 8, 1988, while walking near a wooded area not far from his home...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A new study shows University of Missouri medical students who spend time in rural communities while in school are more likely to start their careers away from big cities. Researchers led by Dr. Kevin Kane, of the medical school's family and community medicine department, interviewed nearly 230 participants in the summer program. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Dexter voters approved a use tax in Tuesday's election. "It was close," city administrator Mark Stidham said. "One good thing about it is that the state gave the people until 2014 to get this passed. It's great that the people have gone ahead and put this behind us."...

KENNETT, Mo. -- A probation officer in Kennett is accused of having sex with one of the people he was supervising. Frederick B. Tates on Wednesday was arrested by the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department and charged with felony acceding to corruption and felony sexual contact with an offender...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man accused of involvement in a murder in Advance, Mo., will have his case heard in Cape Girardeau County. Scott Evans was charged for his alleged role in the Feb. 19 shooting death of Sean Crow at a McDonald's in Advance...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Meridian students will get plenty of practice taking turns when school starts next week. Meridian Elementary School closed in May after an administrator discovered a potentially dangerous strain of mold in the 33-year-old building...

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Here they are again, back at the top of the world rankings. Tiger Woods, No. 1. Phil Mickelson, No. 2. Wouldn't it be something if they went out in the final pairing of the PGA Championship on Sunday, dueling head-to-head with a major title on the line, still the guys to beat after all these years?...

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The curls no longer spilled from under his cap, a big change for Rory McIlroy. Prompted to reveal the rest of his free haircut, he removed his hat and wild brown locks sprang to life. "Still a little bit on the top," he said Wednesday with an easy smile...

ST. LOUIS -- The Los Angeles Dodgers knocked out Shelby Miller after just two pitches. Then they poured it on against the replacements, bouncing back a night after their franchise-record 15-game road winning streak ended. "We swung the bats great," starter Ricky Nolasco said after a 13-4 victory on Wednesday night. "Everybody was swinging the bats today."

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Even an arena turned into a watery muck from heavy Wednesday morning rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of nearly 10,000 rodeo fans on the opening night of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. The rodeo, in its 61st year, presented professional rodeo events and country-music star Brantley Gilbert for the spectators. ...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- The day before the body of a Cape Girardeau tattoo artist was found in a septic tank in rural St. Francois County, federal investigators executed a search warrant on the home of the man accused of killing him. Melvin Scherrer, 49, of Bonne Terre faces five felony charges, including first-degree murder and felonious restraint, in connection with the death of 38-year-old Samuel Francis, who was last seen Dec. 17 at a residence outside Desloge, Mo...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Since the Marble Hill Board of Aldermen voted to support a plan for the Missouri Department of Transportation to install a stop sign at Highway 51 and Third Street, some who drive regularly on Highway 51 have questioned the decision...

Although Southeast Missouri saw a slight reprieve from the damp weather Wednesday afternoon, the rain and storms are far from over. According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., additional storms are possible through the rest of the week and into the weekend. Beverly Poole, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said the area is "stuck in a pattern."...

Atticus is a 4 year old Havanese that we adopted after he was rescued off the streets of a nearby town. He had heart worms and was very sick. Atticus is healthy now and is a joy to be around! My granddaughter took this picture and didn't realize he stuck his tongue out until she saw the photo...

The Jackson team 3 Knights and a Lutheran won grand championship honors which was sponsored by Kohlfeld Distributing at the Knights of Columbus cookoff held at Scott City the weekend of August 2nd/3rd.There were 19 teams from,Springfiled,Dexter,Hillsboro and the local area...

Today is Thursday, Aug. 8, the 220th day of 2013. There are 145 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 8, 1963, Britain's "Great Train Robbery" took place as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes...

Technology continues to provide incredible opportunities. This week it means a focus on electric vehicles. Now in its third year, the Electric Vehicle Conversation Convention returned to Cape Girardeau on Tuesday. It continues though Sunday. About 150 people were expected to be in town to learn about the technology championed by Cape Girardeau resident Jack Rickard...

The Cape Municipal Band needs to be congratulated on a successful year. The music was enjoyed by many of us on Wednesday night, and I hope they know we appreciate what they did. We thank them. I want to thank the wonderful person who found my driver's license and put it in my mailbox on Big Bend Road. Thank you...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The allure of capturing the estimated $425 million Powerball jackpot had players in a buying frenzy Wednesday, further confirming a trend that lottery officials say has become the big ticket norm: Fatigued Powerball players, increasingly blasé about smaller payouts, often don't get into the game until the jackpot offers big bucks...

ST. LOUIS -- James Joseph Williams of St. Louis, fortified with the sacraments of Holy Mother Church, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, in St. Louis. Beloved husband 56 years of Carolyn Pearce Williams; dear father of Kimberly Williams, Pamela (Joe) Goldfeld, Tamara (Gary) Reding and James J. ...

MARQUAND, Mo. -- Michael Wayne "Country" Upchurch, 54, of Marquand passed away Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, at his home. He was born March 11, 1959, in St. Louis, son of Manuel William and Esther Yvonne Mills Upchurch. He and Diane Hagar were married Jan. 9, 1993...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. -- Rodney Leon Shell, 60, of Morehouse died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, at his home. He was born Nov. 2, 1952, in Cape Girardeau, to Leon Albert Shell and Kathryn Proffer Shell Alcorn. Rodney had been employed by Associated Electric, and then eight years at Fox Haven Country Club in Sikeston, Mo., until ill health forced his retirement. ...

Kim Allen Eifert, 59, of Scott City died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, at his home. He was born Feb. 8, 1954, in Cape Girardeau, to Ray Allen and Florence Elizabeth August Eifert. Kim had worked at Eifert's Gulf, Roth Hardware, Miller Drywall, Drury Cos. and most recently as a teacher's aide at Scott City schools and with Appraisal Consultants. He was a member of Illmo United Methodist Church...

Richard L. Lipps, 65, of Jackson died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Daughter to Garrett Stephen and Courtney Ann Sander of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Hospital, 9:50 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2013. Name, Cambrie Ann. Weight, 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Mrs. Sander is the former Courtney Urhahn, daughter of Greg and Susan Urhahn of Jackson. She is employed by the Scott County School District. Sander is the son of Regina Sander of Scott City. He is employed by S&L Builders...

WASHINGTON -- Americans borrowed more in June to buy cars and attend schools. But they were frugal again with their credit cards, as many remain wary of taking on high-interest debt. Consumers increased their borrowing $13.8 billion in June from May to a seasonally adjusted $2.85 trillion, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its monthly report on consumer credit. That's the highest level ever...

WASHINGTON -- Freddie Mac earned $5 billion from April through June, the seventh straight profitable quarter for the mortgage giant. The second-quarter gain reported Wednesday compares with net income of $3 billion in the same period of 2012. Freddie says its earnings were due largely to increased profits from investments made to hedge against rising interest rates. That helped offset losses on mortgages during the quarter...

WASHINGTON -- Can a mobile app really teach a baby to find her nose? Or learn to recognize letters and numbers? Not according to an advocacy group that filed a complaint Wednesday with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that two popular baby app developers -- Fisher-Price Inc. and Open Solutions -- are trying to dupe parents into thinking their online games make infants and toddlers smarter...

Allan A. Maki Jr., a New Orleans lawyer with extensive background in maritime and corporate law and economic development, was named the new executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority; he succeeds Tom Cooley. Arena Park is being proposed as a site for a privately-operated "fun park"; local businessmen Gary Stanley and Gary Helwege say the proposed park would include an Olympic-size swimming pool, three large water slides, a wave pool for children, a go-cart track, an 18-hole miniature golf course and an amusement arcade.. ...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Assaults Thefts Property damage Miscellaneous...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Assault Property damage Miscellaneous...

CLEVELAND -- With several swipes from the arm of an excavator and a smattering of applause from spectators, demolition began Wednesday morning on the Cleveland house where three women were held captive and raped over a decade. It took about an hour and 20 minutes to tear down the house, which occurred as part of the plea deal that spared Ariel Castro a possible death sentence. He was sentenced last week to life in prison plus 1,000 years...

LOS ANGELES -- In a rare diplomatic rebuke, President Barack Obama called off an upcoming Moscow summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, sending a stern message of disapproval over Russia's harboring of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden...

Woodland's top senior Cassidy Sawyer has been rodeoing since she was 10 years old. Her specialty is barrel racing. She wears the cowgirl get-up: long-sleeve, button-up shirts, a cowgirl hat, a buckle, jeans and boots. But not just any boots. "My boots I always wear -- I'm obsessed with them," she said. "I wear them, like, everyday. They have shark teeth on them and say ‘Maneater.'"...

Scarlett Patterson of Cape Girardeau was named to the chancellor's list at the University of Arkansas for the spring 2013 semester. To qualify for the list, a 4.0 grade point average must be achieved for the semester. The University of Arkansas is in Fayetteville, Ark...

TODAY NEW MOVIES EVENTS FRIDAY EVENTS SATURDAY EVENTS SUNDAY EVENTS NEXT WEEK NEW RELEASES GAMES DVDs CDs...

String and buttons are two ingredients you might discover in the junk drawer. Did you know you can use those materials to create a science toy that might get the entire family "Hooked on Science." Materials Instructions STEP 1: Thread one end of the string through an eye of the button and then thread the string through the eye directly across from the first eye...

After a hiatus to beat the mid-summer heat, the Tunes at Twilight free concert series resumes Aug. 16 with a performance by folk singer Jack Williams. Other musicians playing the second half are Anne McCue, The Melroys, Warren Wilken, Jimmy Davis and John Latini. The concerts start at 6:30 p.m. at the Common Pleas Courthouse Gazebo in downtown Cape Girardeau...

In the film "Dumb and Dumber," Jim Carrey's character of Lloyd Christmas, upon being told by his love interest that their chances of a relationship were not "one in a hundred," but instead "more like one out of a million," responded: "So you're telling me there's a chance ... YEAH!"...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team has been picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference this year. Defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Tennessee-Martin is favored to repeat according to Wednesday's preseason poll voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors...

Former Southeast Missouri State golfer Caine Fitzgerald has qualified to participate in the PGA Championship beginning today at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. Fitzgerald, 39, is an assistant pro at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colo. He qualified for the PGA Championship by finishing in the top 20 at the PGA Professional National Championship held earlier this summer in Sunriver, Ore...

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Look at London Fletcher's career stats, particularly the column of numbers under the letter "G." Nothing but 16s for "Games" played. On and on and on. Through four years with the St. Louis Rams. Five with the Buffalo Bills. Six with the Washington Redskins...

NEW YORK -- Cosmo Allegretti, who created and voiced puppet characters like Grandfather Clock and Dancing Bear on the children's television show "Captain Kangaroo," has died. He was 86. Allegretti, who had homes in Hampton Bays, N.Y., and New River, Ariz., died of emphysema July 26 in Arizona, his attorney and friend John Munzel said Wednesday...

NAIROBI, Kenya -- A poorly equipped fire brigade reacted slowly to a small fire at Kenya's main airport, allowing it to grow into an inferno that destroyed the arrival hall Wednesday, forcing the airport to be closed and disrupting air traffic...

Administrative Office Building 1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today Open session 1 Barton Square, Jackson, Mo...

O Lord Jesus, precious Savior, thank you for showing us your unfailing love. Amen.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Two former Missouri political leaders are teaming up to share the lessons of their high-profile falls from grace. Former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton and ex-state senator Jeff Smith each wrote a chapter in a new book called "The Recovering Politician's Twelve Step Program to Survive Crisis." They appeared at a University City pizzeria in a recent promotional appearance...

Despite a compromise between Cape Girardeau City Council members and people living in the Whispering Oaks subdivisions about the rezoning of a neighboring business park, concerns remain. The city council Monday unanimously approved the removal of a section of land north of County Road 618 from a proposed rezoned area after people who live in the neighboring Whispering Oaks subdivisions complained about the possibility of heavy industry operating near their homes...

ST. LOUIS -- As a child, Christina Stephens filled her parents' basement with Lego castles and pirate ships. When she put her Lego-building skills to work last month making a prosthetic leg from the children's toy, she became an Internet sensation...

Paul Bucher also stepped down as the school's varsity volleyball coach days before practice will begin

A group of Indiana-based investigators may have brought Elizabeth Gill's family a step closer to finding out what happened to the toddler who vanished from her front yard on a bright Sunday afternoon in 1965. A group of transients was staying at a motel near the little girl's home on South Lorimier Street when Elizabeth, known to her family as Beth, disappeared while playing in the yard...

Heavy rain in Cape Girardeau this week proved too much for the city's aging wastewater treatment plant to handle Thursday, causing operators to allow a release of untreated wastewater into the Mississippi River. Todd Fulton, wastewater treatment coordinator, said untreated water and waste went into the river for two hours Thursday. The release of once-treated material began just after noon and continued into Thursday evening...

Dr. David Crowe (seated) and his wife Missy greet guests at a reception Thursday night, Aug. 8,for the official opening of the "Close to Home" Gallery at Southeast Hospital. The gallery features a display of 12 large photographs of the region's vibrant landscapes taken by Dr. ...

ANNA, Ill. -- An Illinois grand jury indicted four Missourians on felony charges in connection with a July 10 home invasion and armed robbery in Anna, a prosecutor reported Thursday. Anthony T. Sample, 36, of Jackson; Wesley M. Jones III, 28, of Cape Girardeau; Jenna A. Young, 27, of Oak Ridge; and Lakisha S. Bernachi, 19, of Cape Girardeau were indicted on one count each of home invasion and armed robbery, according to a news release from Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston area residents as well as visitors will have plenty to keep them entertained prior to Saturday night's rodeo. In celebration of this week's 61st annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, the Cowboy Up! Arts Festival kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Depot Museum, 116 W. Malone St. in Sikeston...

Records for rainfall were set on two consecutive days this week at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The Aug. 8 was set Thursday at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, when 1.14 inches fell in 24 hours. The previous record was 0.95 inches in 1991...

Today is Friday, Aug. 9, the 221st day of 2013. There are 144 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Aug. 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford became the nation's 38th chief executive as President Richard Nixon's resignation took effect...

The flower beds and other ornamental plantings around our house continue to surprise and amaze us. We are amazed mainly because we are pretty sure our house sits on a toxic waste dump. How else can you explain some of the weird things involving plants that grow from the soil in our yard?...

CENTER, Mo. -- First responders in northeast Missouri struggled to extricate a young woman from a serious car wreck until a priest arrived and helped calm rescuers and the victim. The woman's friends and family now want to know: Who was that mysterious clergyman?...

Ozark Border Electric Cooperative members will vote on the way they are represented at the organization's 75th annual Membership Meeting, beginning at 9:20 a.m. Saturday at Three Rivers College. Currently all 12 board of directors are elected at large. A proposed bylaw amendment would divide the co-op's service area into four districts, with each district electing three representatives...

Son to Christopher David and Jessica Anne Roe of Bartlett, Tenn., Methodist Germantown Hospital, 8:11 a.m. Monday, July 8, 2013. Name, Weston Presley. Weight, 7 pounds, 1 ounce. Second child, first son. Mrs. Roe is the former Jessica Daniel, daughter of Andy and Gail Auer of Cape Girardeau. ...

About 180 area residents, including a few from Cape Girardeau, sweated through a town meeting last night at a Scott City school to voice their opposition to Cape Girardeau's annexation plans. Commissioners of the Southeast Missouri Port Authority have authorized engineer Jim Lawson to release a contractor who has brought an access road to the port up to state specifications; Kelley Construction Co. has fulfilled its contractual obligations...

You won't find many people ambivalent about Rush Limbaugh. The conservative talk radio show host has a strong following of listeners who tune in for three hours Monday through Friday to hear the Cape Girardeau native address the issues of the day with his straightforward and unabashed opinion...

News coverage of possible Interstate 66 connections between Cape Girardeau and Paducah, Ky., seems to beg for clarification. May I try? I have talked with proponents and highway engineers in the past. An east-west connection from the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and the East Cape "Y" straight east to I-24 just north of Metropolis, perhaps running just south of Shawnee College, would need 40 miles of new interstate highway construction. ...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com Southeast Hospital CEO Wayne Smith, right, talks with David Crowe during a reception being held for Crowe Thursday, Aug. ...

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Water along Broadway splashes up as rain continues to fall Thursday morning, Aug. 8, 2013, in Cape Girardeau. According to the National Weather Service, as of 6p.m., Cape Girardeau had received 1.14 inches of rain on Thursday. There is a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms through Saturday....

ANNA, Ill. -- A man who made a Wednesday afternoon escape from a rehab facility in Anna was in federal custody Thursday. According to Union County Sheriff David Livesay, the man's name hasn't been released, but he was undergoing treatment at Fellowship House, a rehab facility for substance abuse offenders. ...

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

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

ST. LOUIS -- James Joseph Williams, 76, of St. Louis, fortified with the sacraments of Holy Mother Church, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, in St. Louis. He was formerly of Chaffee, Mo. Beloved husband 56 years of Carolyn Pearce Williams; dear father of Kimberly Williams, Pamela (Joe) Goldfeld, Tamara (Gary) Reding and James J. ...

Kenneth Lester Tollison, 68, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, at the home of a son in Indianapolis. Kenny was born June 30, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, to Lester and Charlotte Tollison. He attended Cape Girardeau public schools, and did auto body work...

Maxine E. Smith, 102, of Delta passed away Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born July 4, 1911, in Advance, Mo., daughter of George and Mella Reed Chapman. Maxine and Karl E. Smith were married May 20, 1933. He preceded her in death in 1981...

Lee Roderick, 87, of Jackson died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Juanita Marie Martin, 60, formerly of Jackson, died Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at Troy Manor in Troy, Mo. She was born Oct. 1, 1952, in Advance, Mo., to Closkie and Josie Jauch Martin. Survivors include two sisters, Joyce (Marty) Aldrich of O'Fallon, Mo., and Diane Lough of Scott City; two nieces; a nephew; four great-nieces; and a great-nephew...

Richard Lee Lipps, 65, of Jackson died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1947, in Cape Girardeau, to Jerry Lee and Elizabeth Berry Lipps. He and Karen Poston were married Aug. 23, 1984, in Paducah, Ky. Richard was a 1966 graduate of Jackson High School...

Linda Carol Vanaman Hester, 59, of St. Peters, Mo., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at her home. She was born March 18, 1954, in Pine Bluff, Ark., the loving daughter of Jack and Jenny Vanaman and sister of Ruth Vanaman Ogden...

Jerry David Ashley Sr., 67, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Aug. 2, 2013. He was born July 25, 1946, in Dyess, Ark., to Charles T. and Thides O. Ashley. Survivors include a daughter, Sheila Lou Gilley of Aurora, Ill.; a son, Jerry David Ashley Jr. of Aurora; four grandchildren, Jessica Ann Ashley, James David Dunn, Jonathan Patrick Cassidy and Kaylin Lynn Pearson; two great-grandchildren, Olivia Marie Ashley and Zayne Alexander Dunn; two sisters, Melba (Ruben) Pequeno of Chicago and Joyce (Mike) Sparks of Jonesboro, Ark.; three brothers, Bobby (Karen) Ashley of Blytheville, Ark., Larry (Carolyn) Ashley of West Memphis, Ark., and Duck Ashley of Cushman, Ark.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.. ...

NEW YORK -- Miners and other companies dealing in commodities helped pull the stock market out of a three-day slump on Thursday. News that China's trade rebounded last month signaled the end of a six-month slowdown for the world's biggest buyer of raw materials. The report drove prices up for copper and other commodities, and that helped lift Newmont Mining, Freeport-McMoRan and other stocks in the materials industry...

LAKESIDE, Calif. -- A man suspected of abducting a 16-year-old girl after setting his house ablaze with the girl's mother and possibly her younger brother inside may have booby-trapped his car with homemade explosives, police said Thursday as a search expanded to four states, Mexico and Canada...

LOS ANGELES -- The wait is almost over. Since the debut of "Breaking Bad" in January 2008, this drama series -- horrifying, funny, twisted and addictive -- has kept its audience guessing. But one thing seemed certain from the earliest days. ...

ROSEVILLE, Minn. -- A Minnesota man claimed his third of a $448 million Powerball jackpot Thursday, wasting no time before revealing his good fortune to the world and saying he had "been waiting for this day my entire life." Paul White, 45, a project engineer from Ham Lake, Minn., said his family often gave him a hard time for frequently playing the lottery, and he had a tough time convincing many of them he had finally won...

ST. LOUIS -- A 23-year-old single mother made a distress call on her cellphone moments after her car was swept into floods in her hometown in south-central Missouri, killing her young son and likely killing her, authorities said Thursday. Jessica D. Lee and her son, Elyjah M. Lee, 4, both of Waynesville, were in a car that was swept off a roadway early Tuesday after torrential rains hit the area, flooding streets and damaging homes and businesses, Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long said...

CLEVELAND -- Brandon Weeden made coach Rob Chudzinski's debut a success, and may have stopped any quarterback controversy before it started. Weeden threw a touchdown pass and led Cleveland on two scoring drives, and Travis Benjamin returned a punt 91 yards for a TD as the Browns won Chudzinski's first exhibition game, 27-19 over the St. Louis Rams on Thursday night...

Former Southeast Missouri State standout Marland Smith will have the opportunity to play professional basketball overseas. It was announced Thursday that Smith officially committed to playing for the Greek Club Ilisiakos BC. According to the Eurohoops twitter site, Smith is the new point guard for the team...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Making his first career start, St. Louis Cardinals rookie Carlos Martinez was hoping to go the distance. Martinez didn't quite make it, lasting just 4 2/3 innings and taking the loss in a 5-1 setback to the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers. But Martinez, who was called up from Class AAA Memphis earlier in the day to make the start, was able to turn some heads nevertheless...

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 modot.org/southeast. -- From the Missouri Department of Transportation...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com The Jackson Municipal Band performs its last concert of the season Thursday in the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse gazebo in Jackson. ...

In observance of National Farmers Market Week, the Cape Riverfront Market at 35 S. Spanish St. on Saturday will have face painting for children and two giveaways -- one for a reusable Riverfront Market bag and the other for a Ball canning kit. Demonstrations this week will be canning and salsa-making by Katey Young John from Manoor Manor from 8 to 10 a.m. ...

For Maggie Thorn, working during summer vacation from college doesn't include the usual stints in retail or waiting tables. Instead, the 19-year-old from Bloomfield, Mo., performs at various Southeast Missouri venues to boost her budding career in the world of country music...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Eighteen of the 19 U.S. embassies and consulates that were closed in the Middle East and Africa because of a terrorist threat will reopen on Sunday, the State Department says. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, will remain closed. The U.S. Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, which was closed Thursday because of what officials say was a separate credible threat, also was not scheduled to reopen...

CASCADE, Idaho -- The man suspected of abducting 16-year-old Hannah Anderson and killing her mother and brother has been killed in Idaho and the teen has been found safe, San Diego County Sheriff's officials said Saturday. The confrontation between 40-year-old James Lee DiMaggio and the FBI happened after a campsite was spotted from the air, according to Gore. ...

Black Swallowtail Butterflies on Butterfly Weed in our pasture.

HEARTLAND WRITER'S GUILD ON ENVIRONMENT The Heartland Writer's Guild (HWG) will meet at 2pm on Sunday, August 18, 2013 in the Steck House, next door to First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. Follow the signs. You may park in the church parking lot...

Today is Saturday, Aug. 10, the 222nd day of 2013. There are 143 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 10, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a measure providing $20,000 payments to still-living Japanese-Americans who'd been interned by their government during World War II...

A group of residents on Belleridge Pike and adjacent streets are asking that the city consider extending Lexington Avenue westerly to Route W as a first phase of planned construction of the major east-west route; Lexington will eventually link Big Bend Road with North Kingshighway at Mount Auburn Road...

NEW YORK -- A 22-year-old Bangladeshi man who spent a semester at Southeast Missouri State University begged for leniency after pleading guilty to terrorism charges for trying to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. He was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison...

CHICAGO - Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is predicting that voters will get a chance to decide next year whether to halt a labor policy that requires union dues as a condition of employment in some Missouri workplaces. Kinder said while attending a Chicago conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council that he believes fellow Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both the Missouri House and Senate, will pass what supporters commonly refer to as a "right-to-work" measure...

A guiding thought for newly elected Congressman Jason Smith of Missouri's 8th District while settling into his role in Washington, D.C., has been this:"You can only learn by jumping in, and it's been interesting," Smith said. On June 5, the day after his election to fill the seat of longtime Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Smith, the former Republican state legislator from Salem, Mo., was sworn in by House Speaker John Boehner in the nation's Capitol...

BENTON, Mo. -- The body of a Scott County woman was found in a burning car along a farm road off County Road 323 near Kelso on Wednesday, sparking a homicide investigation that became public knowledge Friday. The body was found after firefighters were called to a car fire at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- Firefighters in south-central Missouri have found the body of a 23-year-old woman who was swept away with her young son in floodwaters last week. Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long says crews recovered the body of Jessica Lee late Friday in the Roubidoux River in Waynesville...

It wasn't an accident that senior safety Ben Kargbo and junior wide receiver/return man Spencer Davis were selected by Southeast Missouri State coach Tony Samuel as the Redhawks' player representatives during last month's Ohio Valley Conference media day...

Girl Scouts celebrate National S'Mores Day at Camp Sacajawea.

Girl Scouts from Cape Girardeau got together at Camp Sacajawea to enjoy S'Mores and play some marshmallow games.

Girl Scouts from Cape Girardeau got together at Camp Sacajawea to enjoy S'Mores and play some marshmallow games.

Two people were killed Friday night when their vehicle plummeted from an Interstate 55 overpass to the roadway below. At 11:48 p.m. Friday, a 2004 Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by Wade A. Myers, 20, of Cape Girardeau, was traveling north on Interstate 55 at the Scott City overpass when it struck the left guard rail. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the vehicle traveled over the bridge railing, landing below on Route M...

Today is Sunday, Aug. 11, the 223rd day of 2013. There are 142 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 11, 1965, rioting and looting that claimed 34 lives broke out in the predominantly black Watts section of Los Angeles...

Gail Amick of Chaffee, Mo., and Mark Amick of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Lindsey Michelle Amick, to Blake Michael Dirnberger. He is the son of Kenny and Laverne Dirnberger of Benton, Mo. Lindsey is a 2006 graduate of Scott City High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2011. She is employed at Saint Francis Medical Center...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The engagement of Yolanda Marie Rauch-Robinson and Daniel Gerard Schlosser is announced by their children. Yolanda is the daughter of Bill and Janie Rauch of Chaffee. She is a medical assistant at Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston, Mo...

Keith and Beth Keller of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Blythe Nicole Schmitt, to Andrew Michael Bertrand. He is the son of Cherri Bertand of Jackson, and the late Harry Bertrand Jr. Blythe is a 2006 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a doctor of physical therapy from Maryville University in 2012. She is a physical therapist at Rehab Care in St. Louis...

Harlan and Doris Smothers of Gordonville announce the engagement of their daughter, Bethany Smothers, to Scot Kluesner. He is the son of Pete and Kim Kluesner of Chaffee, Mo. Bethany is a 2006 graduate of Jackson High School, and is a student at SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She is employed at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Gary and Kim Vandeven of Marble Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Shelby Kaye Vandeven, to Jesse Wade Long. He is the son of D.J. and Laurie Long of Marble Hill. Shelby is a 2010 graduate of Leopold High School. She expects to receive a degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University in December. She is employed at Cracker Barrel in Cape Girardeau...

Riche and Donna Walker of Advance, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Sara Ann Walker, to Jerry Richard Stovall. He is the son of Mike and Debbie Brown of Whitewater, and the late Rodney Stovall of Jackson. Sara is a 2005 graduate of Advance High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in human environmental studies from Southeast Missouri State University in 2009. She is a teacher at Horizons Enrichment Center in Cape Girardeau...

Kenny and Judy Foeste of Cape Girardeau are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip. The couple was married Aug. 9, 1963, at First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. They work together every day at K.E. Foeste Masonry Inc., a business they started more than 40 years ago. They are very active members of Trinity Lutheran Church at Egypt Mills. The couple enjoys taking trips, attending activities of their grandchildren, and time with family and friends...

Birthday parties are usually a time for a youngster to revel in a day that is just for them. But July birthday parties for two Cape Girardeau sisters were designated as a time for helping those less fortunate. Instead of receiving toys or clothing from friends and family, Phoenix and Portia Schmidt of Cape Girardeau requested that food items be given as gifts so the food could be donated to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank. ...

According to U. S. Department of Agriculture's Plants Database, the longleaf ground-cherry [physalis longifolia Nutt] is a plant native to most of the lower 48 states. Their distribution map shows that in Missouri the longleaf ground-cherry has been reported in most of the western counties, but in none in Southeast Missouri...

The First Downtown Daze in Oran, Mo., is scheduled for Aug. 23 and 24. The event will feature games, bounce houses, arts and crafts, food, music, a talent contest and three beauty pageants. The Junior Miss Oran pageant, scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 23, is open to Oran girls in sixth, seventh and eighth grades in casual attire; the Miss Oran pageant, at 8 p.m., is open to Oran girls in ninth through 12th grades in formal wear. ...

The Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge 639 raised $2,000 for the Missouri Children's Burn Camp. The Elks presented the check July 25 to Fire Chief Dwayne Kirchhoff of the East Cape County Fire Department. From left are Jerry Arnold, Bret Faust, Jason Ledure, Percy Mangels, Roger Lang, Paul Ledure, Dwayne Kirchhoff and Ray Drury...

Jane Cooper Stacy, former director of alumni services and director of development at Southeast Missouri State University, recently gave a donation to the ministry of the Baptist Student Center at Southeast in memory of her father, the late Rev. Allen B. ...

Need a fresh way to chill out this summer? How about DIY flurries? A flurry is simple -- and it isn't something you can get only at the ice cream shop. You start with ice cream, usually a basic flavor, then you stir or mix or blend all kinds of things into it. It's not a float; no liquid is added. It's like an ice cream sundae, but with the toppings blended in instead of piled on top...

It is hard to believe back-to-school time already has arrived. Families are busy organizing and stocking up on supplies to go back to school. Parents are ready to get back into a routine and the students, although few would admit it, are ready to go back and see friends and start having another fun school year...

One of the greatest mysteries of life is determining what to do with your life. If you believe in God, you may have wondered what His will for your life is. What is that individual, special thing that He has prepared for you and only you to do? Many of us live waiting for an audible voice from Heaven to go left, right, forward, stop...

Mr. Jones described himself as a loner. He liked to be by himself most of the time. He almost enjoyed being a recluse. Sometimes we'd all like some time by ourselves -- time to recuperate, relax and meditate. That sort of aloneness is a necessary part of living for most people...

The Rev. Irvin Brooks is a pastor at Burfordville Baptist Church. In this week's Ministry Focus, he shares information about some of the ministries and events hosted by the church. In addition to his church service, Brooks is on the board for Options for Women, a pregnancy resource center with plans to open in November...

LOS ANGELES -- Jill Zarin had to take a cross-country business trip, but her dog Ginger was sick. She couldn't leave the 7-pound Chihuahua behind, so she hired a vet to go with them. In stepped celebrity veterinarian Dr. Cindy Bressler, who launched JetSetVets this year to meet pets' needs in the air. ...

Donovan is 6 months old. He is friendly and sweet. For more information, call the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

Victoria is a pit bull terrier that is a couple of years old and has an easygoing personality. She is a beautiful dog. For more information, call the Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary at 243-9823. ...

Pet Name: Harley Owners: Missy, Haley and Danielle Ehlers Favorite activity: Playing in the mud outside and playing dress-up with the girls. ...

St. Mary Cathedral Council of Catholic Women met July 18 in the Huels Room. Brenda Kuhn opened the meeting with "A blessing for a meeting." The program was presented by John Marshall. He had seven dolls representing religious orders who had taught in this area. He displayed the distinctive rosaries and emblems for each order...

SIKESTON -- Sikeston High School seniors were among the first group of students to receive their iPads Monday during an orientation for the new school year. "I'm excited!" senior Suzanne Sauceda said as she followed instructions to set up the iPad she'll use in all of her classes this school year...

WEDNESDAY--Mozzarella cheese sticks with sauce, green beans or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, mixed fruit cup. THURSDAY--Crispito with cheese, four-bean baked beans or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, cinnamon applesauce. FRIDAY--Cheese or turkey pepperoni pizza, candied carrots or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, pineapple...

Many area students will head back to school this week, which means more traffic in the morning and early afternoon. As you commute, please pay special attention to children boarding school busses and other vehicles. This vigilance applies to older students as well. ...

I believe the saying "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Nothing proves this more than all the scandals happening in Washington. The IRS abuse of power is particularly offensive. This agency strikes fear into all taxpaying citizens. And with Obamacare, the IRS will have access to our most personal information. This should horrify all of us...

Federal deficit Don't look now but based on the diatribes of David Limbaugh and others on this page, the federal deficit is shrinking faster than the support for Congress.

Lord Jesus, may our focus be on your kingdom and not our own selfish interests. Amen.

Tax liens and lien discharges recorded at the office of Tara L. Mason, recorder of deeds, during July are filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue, except as indicated by IRS designation. For more information, contact the recorder's office at 573-545-3551...

Lee Roderick, 87, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Aug. 2, 1926, at Upton, Mo., to Leonard W. and Gracie Baker Roderick. He and Lorraine Slaughter were married July 30, 1948. Lee served honorably in the U.S. Army from May 30, 1945, to Oct. 26, 1946. He then worked 40 years in shoe manufacturing. He worked as a superintendent for both the Brown Shoe and Juvenile Shoe companies before retiring in 1989...

Wade A. Myers, 20, of Cape Girardeau was fatally injured Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, in a car accident in Scott County. He and his cousin, Cody Myers, were on their way home from the rodeo. He was born Jan. 12, 1993, at Cape Girardeau, to Becky Myers. He attended St. Mary Cathedral School in Cape Girardeau, and was a 2010 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. He then took welding courses at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center...

GIPSY, Mo. -- Mary Louise Jackson, 80, of Gipsy passed away Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Advance Nursing Center in Advance, Mo. Louise, as she was known by family and friends, was born Jan. 7, 1933, near Advance, the daughter of Edgar and Minnie Yount Moore...

FENTON, Mo. -- Cody A. Myers, 23, of Fenton was fatally injured Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, in a car accident in Scott County. He and his cousin, Wade Myers, were on their way home from the rodeo. He was born Dec. 28, 1989, at Cape Girardeau to Angela Myers and Gary Smith. He attended Jackson R-2 Elementary School and was a 2008 graduate of Rockwood High School in St. Louis. He also attended the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Mo., and Vatterott College in St. Louis...

George A. Treece, 82, of Millersville, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 5, 1930, at Charleston, Mo., to Isaac and Lula Boyer Treece. He and Betty Ratledge were married Oct. 31, 1953, at Benton, Mo. George was a member of Millersville First Baptist Church...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Harold Gene Lineberry Sr., 76, of Advance passed away Friday, Aug. 9, 2013 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 13, 1937, at Portageville, Mo., the son of Zelma and Alva Lee Patton Lineberry. Harold retired as a carpenter and homebuilder. He was a member of Zalma General Baptist Church...

Daughter to Robert and Colleen Arendt of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 9:58 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2013. Name, Daphne Marie. Weight, 7 pounds, 12 ounces. First child. Mrs. Arendt is the daughter of James and Marcia Bates of Sikeston, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Arendt are pharmacists. He is the son of Chuck and Carol Keppler of Scott City...

Cape Girardeau residents are picking up the pieces after a sudden storm struck a section of the city yesterday afternoon, unleashing high winds that toppled trees and dumped 3.7 inches of rain that caused flooding in some areas; tree limbs falling on power lines left 750 residences and businesses without power, some until 1 a.m. today...

CAPE GIRARDEAU Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday:...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Nora E. "Sis" Wood, 86, of Perryville died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at Independence Care Center. She was born Oct. 10, 1926, at Friedheim, son of Herman and Ida Braun Laurentius. She and Melvin "Moe" Wood were married Oct. 12, 1946, in Perryville, Mo. He preceded her in death June 29, 2010...

Homer Tignor "Shep" Sheppard Jr., 92, of Plano, Texas, a loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, under hospice care after a long illness. He was born Nov. 27, 1920, in Seattle to Josephine Beckett and Homer Sheppard Sr. He grew up in Scott City (Fornfelt) and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps...

Larry D. Humphreys, 73, of Virginia Beach, Va., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013. He was born June 27, 1940, at Zalma, Mo., to R.C. and Sadie Humphreys. He was the youngest of 13 children. Larry graduated from Zalma High School. He served 24 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a master chief...

McCLURE, Ill. -- William E. Colyer, 73, of McClure died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 21, 1939, in Cape Girardeau, to Emanuel and Wilma Rogers Colyer. He and Mitzi Flowerday were married July 8, 1961, in Seward, Neb. They had been married 52 years...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- President Barack Obama assured disabled veterans Saturday that his administration is making progress on reducing a backlog of disability claims and said the number of requests for assistance has fallen by nearly one-fifth since peaking at more than 600,000 just a few months ago...

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. -- A South Florida man who authorities say fatally shot his wife -- and apparently then posted a photo of her body on Facebook -- was charged with first-degree murder Thursday night after turning himself in. Miami-Dade police said in an arrest affidavit that Derek Medina, 31, said he shot Jennifer Alfonso, 26, at their South Miami home after she said she was "leaving him." When officers responded to the home, they found Alfonso's body, as well as her 10-year-old daughter, who was unharmed.. ...

EAST HAVEN, Conn. -- Four bodies have been recovered from the site of a plane crash in a residential Connecticut neighborhood, a fire official said Saturday. Those presumed dead are the pilot, a former Microsoft executive, his teenage son and two children in a home struck by the plane...

CHICAGO -- Former Florida governor Jeb Bush defended new uniform achievement standards for students around the nation Friday while calling for states to expand school-choice initiatives through more online classrooms. Bush outlined his education priorities to mixed reviews from conservative lawmakers and business executives attending a conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a key behind-the-scenes policy resource for many Republican-led Legislatures...

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama signed into law Friday a measure restoring lower interest rates for student loans, pledging the hard-fought compromise would be just the first step in a broader, concerted fight to rein in the costs of a college education...

MILAN -- Italy may get its own political dynasty out of the ashes of Silvio Berlusconi's political career. The nation has been buzzing with speculation that Marina Berlusconi will step in as her father's political heiress ever since the supreme court last week confirmed the three-time former premier's tax fraud conviction, jail sentence and ban from politics...

MEXICO CITY -- Infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero walked free Friday after 28 years in prison when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, a brutal murder that marked a low point in U.S.-Mexico relations...

The Jackson Police Department will participate in the annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" national crackdown on drinking and driving, according to a news release from the department. The crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement and high-profile events. It will be supported by national advertising to create a comprehensive campaign, the news release said. It will be in effect in Jackson from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2 in an effort to curb drunken driving through Labor Day weekend...

The recently constructed bridge on Cape Rock Drive near Dennis Scivally Park will open to traffic at 4 p.m. Monday, according to a news release from the Cape Girardeau Public Works Department. While the project's road work will continue, the remaining construction can be finished without restricting traffic. ...

By Corey Noles ~ The Daily Statesman DEXTER, Mo. -- Synthetic drugs are already illegal in all of Missouri. But the city of Dexter has a proposed an ordinance to simplify arrests for possession of those drugs. The ordinance was presented to the Dexter Board of Aldermen for their consideration last week at the request of Dexter Police Chief Sammy Stone...

CHICAGO (AP) -- Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush defended new uniform achievement standards for students around the nation Friday while calling for states to expand school-choice initiatives through more online classrooms. Bush outlined his education priorities to mixed reviews from conservative lawmakers and business executives attending a conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a key behind-the-scenes policy resource for many Republican-led Legislatures...

The Global Leadership Summit was hosted by La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau Thursday and continues today, inspiring leaders from the surrounding area, who by their definition, is anyone. The Global Leadership Summit originated at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago by founder and senior pastor Bill Hybels...

GENEVA -- Switzerland is a glamorous playground of the rich and famous, filled with glitterati from princes to movie stars. It's also a land with a sometimes uneasy relationship with foreigners -- especially when they aren't white. Billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey says she ran into Swiss racism when a clerk at Trois Pommes, a pricey Zurich boutique, refused to show her a $38,000 handbag, telling one of the world's richest women that she wouldn't be able to afford it. ...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Dioner Navarro made it look simple Saturday night. The Chicago catcher, picking up a bat for the first time in three days, lashed a run-scoring double in the eighth inning to break a tie and cap a three-run rally that helped the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5...

Albert Pujols says he's taking legal action against Jack Clark after the former St. Louis Cardinals star accused him of taking performance-enhancing drugs. "I am currently in the process of taking legal action against Jack Clark and his employers at WGNU 920AM," the injured Los Angeles Angels' slugger said a statement Friday night. "I am going to send a message that you cannot act in a reckless manner, like they have, and get away with it...

The tackle was hurt early in the Rams' preseason game against the Browns

ST. LOUIS -- Daryl Richardson was surprised when he found out this offseason that longtime NFL running back Steven Jackson was no longer a St. Louis Ram. But Richardson also knew what Jackson's signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons meant for him...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Dorothy "Dot" Dannen-mueller, 74, of Chaffee passed away Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, at the family home. She was born on Oct. 26, 1938, in Cape Girardeau to the late John Lewis and Irene Jones Davis. She married Robert L. Dannenmueller on May 17, 1958, and he preceded her in death Dec. 11, 1992...

Derrell and Gina White of Miami, Okla., announce the engagement of their daughter, Kara Marie White, to Eric David Poythress. He is the son of Roger and Bonnie Poythress of Jackson. Kara is a 2006 graduate of Miami High School. She received an associate degree in psychology and sociology from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in 2010. She is an undergraduate student at Northeastern State University studying psychology and social welfare...

I'm disappointed in President Obama. We don't need another Cold War. I thought that Obama was going to be great, and you're telling me he can't get along with the president of Russia? Come on. If the president and his buddies in the Democratic Party are for the working man, when in the world are they going to do something about the economy and the horrendous loss of jobs and wages? The working class in this country is suffering. ...

ST. LOUIS -- New medical students at Washington University are stepping outside the classroom to see a side of St. Louis far different from the exclusive private school's leafy undergraduate campus and its Central West End medical complex. The program has incoming students visit some of St. Louis' most distressed neighborhoods to expose the doctors-in-training to public health needs. The voluntary program is in its 14th year and becomes mandatory next year...

ST. LOUIS -- The mother of two Boone County children electrocuted in a 2012 Fourth of July boat dock accident at Lake of the Ozarks is suing the utility company that owns the popular recreational lake. A wrongful-death lawsuit filed in July in Morgan County by Angela Anderson of Ashland claims Union Electric Co. ...

OLD MONROE, Mo. -- The arson arrest of a volunteer Missouri firefighter isn't as uncommon as some might think. Lincoln County volunteer firefighter Dustin Grigsby was arrested Monday and accused of torching a garage, but authorities say he is suspected in 14 other suspicious fires in the Old Monroe area...

ROCKVIEW, Mo. -- Construction of the Route M overpass in Scott County, which was destroyed in May in a train crash, was not delayed by last week's deluge. Missouri Department of Transportation officials accepted project bids June 28 and by July 1 awarded a $2,319,363 contract for an emergency bridge replacement to Goodwin Brothers Construction Co. It also granted the contractors early notice to proceed in order to begin construction as soon as possible...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A clown wearing a President Barack Obama mask appeared at a Missouri State Fair rodeo this weekend and the announcer asked the enthusiastic spectators if they wanted to see "Obama run down by a bull." The antics led the state's second highest-ranking official, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, to denounce the performance in a tweet Sunday. He said it was "disrespectful" to the president...

The world of popular culture lost one of its icons Wednesday when Margaret Pellegrini, one of the last surviving munchkins from the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," died from complications of a stroke. Pellegrini, 89, died at a hospital near Phoenix, where she had been admitted after suffering a stroke Aug. 5...