Stories from Friday, November 1, 2013

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The start of November means Missouri residents are protected by the state's "cold weather" rule, which bars cutoffs of heat in freezing weather. The rule applies to natural gas and electric utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission. It prohibits shutoffs from November through March whenever the temperature is predicted to fall below 32 degrees in the following 24 hours...

WASHINGTON -- Airline passengers will be able to use their electronic devices gate-to-gate to read, work, play games, watch movies and listen to music -- but not talk on their cellphones -- under much-anticipated guidelines issued Thursday by the Federal Aviation Administration...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Officials at the Missouri Cattlemen's Association say the state's recently replaced agriculture director had made threats against the group's leader, marking the second time in two weeks someone has alleged intimidation by the director...

Photographs of the famous, the not-so-famous and the infamous taken by pop-art icon Andy Warhol will be exhibited during the First Friday reception at the Crisp Museum Art Gallery at the River Campus. The reception for "Andy Warhol Photographs: Recent Gifts From The Photographic Legacy Program" will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and is the first in a series of local Warhol events that will be held throughout November...

The weather brought more tricks than treats to Southeast Missouri on Halloween night as severe storms swept through the area, bringing hail, heavy rain and reports of property damage across the region. More than 2,000 Ameren Missouri customers in Cape Girardeau County and 134 customers in Scott County were without electricity Thursday night after the storms knocked down power lines throughout the area. Just before midnight, the number in Cape Girardeau had fallen to about 850...

The Central football team had to overcome Farmington and the weather Thursday night. No problem on either front. Central endured a 70-minute weather delay that came after the host Tigers built a 13-0 lead barely five minutes into the game. The second-seeded Tigers, after play resumed, finished off a 63-28 victory over seventh-seeded Farmington in a Class 4 District playoff opener...

A recent fundraiser for Safe House for Women may have been too successful for its own good, an organizer said Thursday. Deb Maevers, founder and executive director of the VintageNOW fashion show, said the Oct. 22 event saw record turnout, but the size of the crowd may have contributed to a drop in the amount of money raised by a silent auction during the event...

Took this photo of a Bald Eagle eating a small fish

Today is Friday, Nov. 1, the 305th day of 2013. There are 60 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to force their way into Blair House in Washington, D.C. to assassinate President Harry S. Truman. The attempt failed, and one of the pair was killed, along with a White House police officer...

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks men's basketball team received good news at the Ohio Valley Conference's annual media day. The team was the preseason pick tied for first in the West Division. The women's team was ranked fifth, which is a significant improvement for the squad that ranked last in the 2012 preseason poll...

A number of years ago there was a Speak Out comment in the Southeast Missourian that got my dander up. (That's not the only time, of course, but it's the only one pertinent to this column.) The comment said Cape Girardeau's littering problem was so bad that our fair River City of Roses looked worse than Wayne County...

SAINT JO, Texas -- An off-road racing enthusiast survived being struck by lightning twice during the same storm in North Texas. Casey Wagner said Sunday that doctors told him a tingling feeling would last for about a week. KTVT-TV reported Wagner was at an off-road competition in Saint Jo, 85 miles northwest of Dallas, when storms arrived...

NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court Thursday blocked a judge's ruling that found the New York Police's stop-and-frisk policy discriminated against minorities, and it took the unusual step of removing her from the case, saying interviews she gave during the trial called her impartiality into question...

AUSTIN, Texas -- A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled most of Texas' tough new abortion restrictions can take effect immediately -- a decision that means as least 12 clinics won't be able to perform the procedure starting as soon as today...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri Senate leader has put forth a new, pared-back proposal dealing with the enforcement of federal gun control laws. Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard released a draft Thursday of proposed legislation for the 2014 session seeking to nullify federal gun control laws that infringe on Second Amendment rights...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Greeting card giant Hallmark says it shouldn't have changed the lyrics to "Deck the Halls" on a new holiday ornament that's stirring customer backlash online. The company took heat Thursday after it began selling a miniaturized version of a tacky holiday sweater. The ornament alters the carol's lyrics by substituting the word "fun" for the word "gay."...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City man accused of masterminding a nationwide tax fraud scheme that attempted to bring in nearly $96 million in unearned tax refunds is scheduled to change his plea in federal court. A change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled for Nov. ...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A federal judge has ordered no bail for a southwest Missouri man suspected of setting fires at a Planned Parenthood facility and an area mosque. U.S. Magistrate Judge James England on Monday ordered Jedediah Stout, 30, to remain in custody without bail, The Joplin Globe reported. Stout is being held in federal custody in Springfield, Mo...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis criminal justice system frequently makes mistakes on arrests and employees don't have the training to correct them, according to depositions from law enforcement officials taken in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a man who claims he was wrongly jailed for more than two months...

BENTON, Mo. -- A bond reduction request by a Sikeston, Mo., man accused of killing his wife was denied, and his preliminary hearing continued Wednesday in Scott County. Stevie Cordale Lott, 41, is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, endangering the welfare of a child and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution...

Southeast Missouri State University student Joshua Bowlin now has 20,000 reasons to be a St. Louis Blues fan. He purchased three "St. Louis Blues" Scratchers tickets Oct. 19 at U-Gas, 14807 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Mo., because they corresponded with his lucky number -- 20 -- and it netted him $20,000...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Office of Administration is accepting management contract bids for the Cape Girardeau license office, 112 S. Spanish St. According to a news release issued by the agency, interested individuals and groups must submit bids to operate the Cape Girardeau office by Nov. 22...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The commander of the largest veteran/patriotic organization in the United States is visiting Southeast Missouri. Dan Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, will have breakfast with members of American Legion Post 114 at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. According to Post member Blair Moran, Dellinger will make some brief remarks to those attending the event and the Post members will make a presentation...

The March of Dimes of Southeast Missouri will offer a culinary experience at its Signature Chefs Auction on Thursday. The auction is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza By Ray's, 3257 William St. Beth Simmons, division director of the March of Dimes of Southeast Missouri, said four teams of chefs will prepare the meals for a silent auction...

Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance saves its darkest, most adult material for its second stage in the Rust Flexible Theatre. This weekend, that stage hosts a student production of the dark comedy "Sordid Lives," about a dysfunctional Southern family. ...

The very people who voted for Obama are now getting hit with the extra expense of Obamacare. Nothing is free; the subsidies are paid for by someone. Everything is going up. This is the way Obama wants it so he can push his single-payer agenda. I've never smoked marijuana, but I'm not against it as far as people doing it in the privacy of their own home or for medicinal purposes for cancer patients. ...

Daughter to Dustin and Nissa Benfield of Marble Hill, Mo., Southeast Hospital, 1:21 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013. Name, Chase Logan. Weight, 6 pounds, 3 ounces. First child. Mrs. Benfield is the former Nissa Hamm, daughter of Glen and Nancy Hamm of Scott City. She is a registered veterinarian technician at Skyview Animal Clinic. Benfield is the son of Regina and Kevin Ward of Sikeston, Mo., and Paul Benfield of Marble Hill. He is an auto body technician at Harris Body and Frame...

Other than a few reports of egg-tossing and "tee-peeing," area authorities report a generally quiet Halloween. There's only a sparse turnout in the evening at a town-hall meeting on the proposed flood-control tax; the proposed sales tax, to be voted on next Tuesday, would fund the city's $8 million share of the $28 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' project designed to alleviate flash flooding along Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks here...

BENTON, Mo. -- A jury trial is set for a Sikeston, Mo., man facing multiple child sex abuse charges. Ronald Sherrod, 61, is scheduled for a jury trial May 5 on five counts of forcible rape, five counts of armed criminal action and two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, which occurred on or around Feb. 15, 2006, and two counts of second-degree statutory sodomy on or around Feb. 15, 2007...

First came the shoes. Then footwear lovers found out their purchases of TOMS shoes were helping do good works worldwide. Now Cape Girardeau residents will get a chance to hear from TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie as part of the Southeast Missouri State University's 2013-2014 Speakers Series at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Show Me Center. The title of Mycoskie's presentation is "Start Something that Matters," which also is the title of his book...

On Oct. 4-6, 547 alumni from Cape Girardeau Central High School's 1950-1959 classes celebrated their 25th anniversary of gathering at the Arena Building to remember and cherish "the way it was." The idea of the Fifties Reunion every five years was the dream of a few Centralites who worked to make that dream become a reality. The first reunion began in 1988. Bill Evans, class of '55, was the first chairman and held that post until his death in 2007...

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

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

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Velma M. Williams, 96, of Kelseyville, Calif., formerly of Chaffee, died Friday, June 21, 2013, in Kelseyville. A graveside service will be at 2:45 p.m. Saturday at St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery in Chaffee. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements...

ORAN, Mo. -- Bernard Anthony "Barney" Tenkhoff, 92, of Oran died Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 9, 1921, in Cape Girardeau, to Leo and Mary M. Metz Tenkhoff. He married Betty Elaine Watkins on Feb. 17, 1947. She preceded him in death Nov. 11, 2000...

Leroy McCauley, 61, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born May 13, 1952, in Sikeston, Mo., to the late Emory and Katie Geralds McCauley Sr. He married the former Jo Ann Ware. McCauley was a founding member of House of Prayer World Outreach Center in Cape Girardeau. He was currently an assistance pastor. He was a member of Pipefitters Local 562...

ST. LOUIS -- Alcohol sales will be banned at youth-related events within the Archdiocese of St. Louis starting today. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the Archdiocese of St. Louis' new policy prohibits drinking at any events directed primarily toward minors, including sporting events. That means athletic associations will no longer be able to generate revenue from beer at concession stands...

Amanda Jane Lorberg, 95, of Jackson, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at Monticello House in Jackson. She was born Jan. 2, 1918, at Vanduser, Mo., to James Henry and Ruth Helen Alfultis Joyce. She and Carlton J. "Blink" Lorberg were married April 17, 1938, in Jacksonville, Fla. He died Nov. 7, 1986...

Arlen E. Kuehnert, 88, of Delmar, N.Y., died Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in Delmar. He was born July 11, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, to Paul and Marie Gruebmeyer Kuehnert. He was married to Elizabeth Fitzgibbons 38 years. She preceded him in death May 12, 2001...

Eileen Davied Hoskin, 93, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Nov. 16, 1919, at Mountain View, Mo., daughter of Edward R. and Nina Porter Davied. She married Alvin W. Hoskin on Dec. 30, 1939, in Springfield, Mo...

Jonathan Dinkins, 40, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Helen Faye Birk, 93, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, at the Lutheran Home. She was born July 3, 1920, in Greenway, Ark., to the late Reynold E. and Lucille Stokes Alcorn. Helen and Elbert A. Birk were married April 25, 1943. He preceded her in death April 1, 1989...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Zilpha E. Abernathy, 77, of Perryville died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, at Life Care Center of St. Louis. She was born March 23, 1936, in Bell City, Mo., daughter of Herman and Iva Workman Liggett. She and Tommy Abernathy were married Oct. 8, 1955...

West Park Mall was the site of a pleasant chaos when hordes of costumed children arrived Thursday for the mall's annual "Spooktacular Trick Or Treat" celebration. The event, which was from 5 to 7 p.m., saw mall merchants handing out candy to the various superheroes, princesses and parents who passed by their stores in a single-file line, a line that stretched outside the mall past Barnes & Noble to J.C. Penney...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- The St. Vincent football team had a number of scoring opportunities against Portageville in its Class 1 District 1 quarterfinal on Thursday. But the Indians were unable to capitalize, and big runs by Portageville's Ben Story helped the Bulldogs as they rolled to a 28-0 win at home...

The Leopold volleyball program has recorded 24 district titles since 1979, but the team will get to host a Class 1 state sectional and quarterfinal round for the first time in its history Saturday. "It's kind of a big deal for us to get to host it," Leopold athletic director Andy Beck said. "I don't think it gives us an advantage in any way because it seems like almost everywhere we go -- even if we travel -- we usually have the most fans."...

The Southeast football team is paying Division II Urbana about $35,000 for Saturday's contest

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Andrew Baggett couldn't sleep. Hours earlier, he missed a 24-yard field goal attempt that ended Missouri's first loss of the season, a 27-24 double-overtime setback to South Carolina. When the ball thudded off the left goal post Saturday night, few in Memorial Stadium could believe it, least of all Baggett...

ST. LOUIS -- Clutch hitting deserted the St. Louis Cardinals in the postseason. The power arms that got them to the World Series finally gave out, too. For the third straight year there's satisfaction in the achievement of making a deep October run. They were close to a second title in three years, largely thanks to rookie Michael Wacha, and there's no reason they can't keep contending...

Blake Mycoskie will speak at Southeast Missouri State University as part of its Speakers Series at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Show Me Center. His presentation is titled "Start Something That Matters." General admission tickets are $10 and can be bought at showmecenter.biz and the Show Me Center box office. ...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will host a reception for Cape Girardeau artist and Southeast Missouri State University professor Justin Miller's "Forgotten Future." Miller's work will be on display in the Lorimier Gallery until Nov. 30, as will the artwork of his students in Gallery 100. ...

O Lord Jesus, may we love one another as you love us. Amen.

Braden Cox passed for two touchdowns and 56 yards as the sixth-seeded Rams pulled a big upset over the third-seeded Blue Jays with a 20-14 victory in the Class 2 District 1 tournament at Charleston. The Rams jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when Cox connected with Austin Spriggs on a 4-yard pass with 2 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first quarter, but Charleston quickly replied to tie the game on Devonte Ware's 57-yard run with 1:01 left in the quarter...

WASHINGTON -- Terrorists "found a second chance" to thrive in Iraq, the nation's prime minister said Thursday in asking for new U.S. aid to beat back a bloody insurgency that has been fueled by the neighboring Syrian civil war and the departure of American troops from Iraq two years ago...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals declined their $9.5 million option for next season on pitcher Jake Westbrook, who was not on their postseason roster after battling elbow and back injuries much of the year. The 36-year-old Westbrook, who was 7-8 with a 4.63 ERA, gets a $1 million buyout...

BENTON, Mo. -- A change of venue was granted in front of a new judge for murder suspect Neil Howland, who appeared for a trial setting on Thursday. Howland is charged with first-degree murder and other felony charges in connection with the death of his mother, Cythia Canoy of Scott City...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team crushed NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange 115-45 in its exhibition opener Tuesday night. Coach Dickey Nutt expects a much stiffer test Saturday when the Redhawks wrap up their two-game exhibition schedule. Division II Ouachita Baptist -- coached by Nutt's brother Dennis -- visits the Show Me Center for an 8 p.m. tipoff...

Former state representative Mike Sutherland on Friday addressed two audiences with a presentation on a hot topic in the area -- use tax. About 55 city and county governments in Missouri have a use tax. That number grew through approval of local ballot questions since a 2012 Missouri Supreme Court ruling. ...