Stories from January 2015

A man sustained serious injuries Monday in an early morning crash in Bollinger County, Missouri, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported. Stephen C. McDaniel, 29, of Sedgewickville, Missouri, was driving a 2007 Dodge Caravan south on Route B north of County Road 314 when he failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the side of the road and hit a tree, totaling the vehicle, the patrol reported...

Today is Thursday, Jan. 1, the first day of 2015. There are 364 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 1, 1975, a jury in Washington found Nixon administration officials John N. Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman and Robert C. Mardian guilty of charges related to the Watergate cover-up; a fifth defendant, Kenneth Parkinson, was acquitted, and Mardian's conviction for conspiracy was later overturned on appeal...

Aside from accidents caused by icy roads, area law enforcement authorities report an uneventful New Year's Eve; ice-covered roads became a bane for travelers last night and this morning; Cape Girardeau police say ice contributed to several accidents in the city...

Notre Dame senior Quinn Poythress scored 21 points to lead the third-seeded Bulldogs to a 72-55 win over the second-seeded Central Tigers in a championship semifinal of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Monday at the Show Me Center. The 6-foot-7 Poythress is one of 11 seniors on the Notre Dame squad this season. He scored 19 of his points in the second half of Monday's game. The win advanced Notre Dame to Tuesday's championship game against top-seeded Jackson...

HONOLULU (AP) -- The United States imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea on Friday, targeting top state officials and defense-related organizations in an attempt to punish North Korea for a crippling cyberattack against Sony. The sanctions marked the first public act of retribution by the U.S...

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) -- Three Missouri lawmakers are urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to commit some recently approved funding to levee improvements in northwest Missouri. Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, along with U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, recently wrote to the Army's assistant secretary for civil works and chief engineer and said the state of Missouri and local sources will provide matching funds needed for levee upgrades, the St. Joseph News-Press (http://bit.ly/1I0mBQj ) reported...

Missouri lawmaker pushes for school health clinics JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri lawmaker is proposing the state create incentives for health clinics at rural schools. State Rep. Jay Barnes recently filed legislation to encourage health centers at schools with large populations of students from low-income families...

CREVE COEUR, Mo. -- Fifty-one years ago, Arthur Lampitt of Granite City, Illinois, smashed his 1963 Thunderbird into a truck. This week during surgery in suburban St. Louis, a 7-inch turn signal lever from that T-Bird was removed from his left arm. Dr. Timothy Lang removed the lever Wednesday during a 45-minute operation...

A new management contract awarded for the operation of the Cape Girardeau License Office is expected to prompt it to move from downtown to the Town Plaza. The office, which issues driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations for the Missouri Department of Revenue, will relocate to 51 S. Plaza Way, according to a news release from the department...

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will detail his legislative and economic priorities for the coming year during the 2015 State of the State Address on Jan. 21. It's been a tumultuous year for Missouri, with sometimes-violent protests breaking out among communities about the use of lethal force by police officers. The Legislature also harbored its fair share of disagreements as it clashed with the governor on tax reform, gun laws and budget priorities...

The Redhawks had a shot to take down two-time defending regular-season Ohio Valley Conference champion Belmont in its conference opener, but never got that shot off in the closing seconds and were handed a 78-77 defeat.

While her older sister, Ashley, was running in the cold Thursday morning, Abigail Brotherton stayed inside the 4-H building at Arena Park, pouring batter onto a hot electric griddle. "I'm making pancakes for the runners," the 10-year-old from Jackson explained. "Once they get done, we will serve them to them."...

Today is Friday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2015. There are 363 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 2, 1965, New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath to a contract reportedly worth $427,000...

PASADENA, Calif. -- As Danelle Jacobs and a crew of volunteers decorated their Rose Parade float, strong winds from a blustery winter storm blew flowers into the air. The scaffolding bounced. Then the power went out. For the first time in 30 years, the team decided to suspend decorating for the night...

WASHINGTON -- Governors across the political spectrum are hitting a roadblock in their bids to expand Medicaid with federal funds: Republican legislators who adamantly oppose "Obamacare." While some of these governors themselves have criticized the president's health-care law in general, they've come to see one component -- Medicaid expansion -- as too generous to reject. ...

CLEVELAND -- The city hopes to hand over the investigation of a 12-year-old boy's fatal shooting by police to an outside agency as well as future investigations of all deadly use-of-force cases. Michael McGrath, the city's safety director and its former police chief, has been in talks with Cuyahoga County officials for the sheriff's office to handle the inquiry, city spokesman Dan Ball said...

Revelers crowded New York's Times Square and converged on the beaches of Brazil and skyscrapers of Dubai to say good riddance to a turbulent 2014 marred by terror woes, Ebola outbreaks and a horrific series of airline disasters. But tragedy struck in Shanghai, Baghdad was on edge and protesters in the United States delivered a sobering reminder of one of the year's biggest stories...

CAIRO -- An Egyptian appeals court Thursday ordered the retrial of three Al-Jazeera English journalists held for over a year on terror-related charges, a ruling their lawyers hoped was a step toward resolving a case that brought a storm of international criticism on Egypt's government...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff Police Department went live New Year's Day with its officers wearing body cameras as they patrol the streets and answer calls. "We are very excited to have this opportunity to wear the Taser Axon body cameras in the performance of our duties," deputy chief Jeff Rolland said...

SURABAYA, Indonesia -- More ships arrived today with sensitive equipment to search for the fuselage of AirAsia Flight 8501 and the more than 150 people missing since it crashed five days ago. Rear Marshal Henry Bambang Soelistyo, leader of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency, said the search would be stepped up as long as the weather allowed...

SINUI ISLAND, South Korea -- He ran the first chance he got. The sun beat down on the shallow, sea-fed fields where Kim Seong-baek was forced to work without pay, day after 18-hour day mining the salt crystals that blossomed in the mud around him. Half-blind and in rags, Kim grabbed another slave, and the two disabled men headed for the coast...

Tickets are on sale for a two-night monster truck and tractor event at the Show Me Center. The No Limits Monster Trucks and Hot Rod Truck and Tractor Pull will roar into action at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21, with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. In the lineup for the monster truck competition -- side-by-side racing and car-crushing freestyle -- are Monster Medic, Wicked Sickness, Twisted Addiction and Defender...

NEW YORK -- Hollywood's 2014 may well go down as a mere box-office blip, or it could be Act One in a drama of coming digital disruption. When the year's final receipts are tallied at the end of Wednesday, the final take is estimated by box-office firm Rentrak to be about $10.4 billion, a 5.2 percent drop from the record $10.9 billion of 2013...

This is an introductory course that will include 13 sessions. By the time you have completed all the requirements of Global Marketing 101, you will be filthy rich. Or in jail. (If arrested, please refer to a related course, Legal Shenanigans 102, offered as needed. Hourly fees of $500 will be assessed.)...

The championship game of the 70th annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament turned out to be a classic match of two schools from Cape Girardeau County. The Notre Dame Bulldogs led most of the game over the Jackson Indians. With under 4 minutes Jackson appeared to be cruising with a lead of 14 points. ...

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Concealed weapons are part of everyday life in Idaho, and that's unlikely to change in that state despite an accident in which a 2-year-old boy reached into his mother's purse, got ahold of her gun and shot her in the head inside a Wal-Mart...

Carolyn Kelley and David Goncher file for seats on the Cape Girardeau School Board; Kelley, the board president, is seeking a third term, while Goncher, a member of the school district's athletic task force, hopes to be elected for the first time; Dr. Thomas Harte says he won't be a candidate for re-election...

FERGUSON, Mo. -- Two members of the Missouri National Guard from Poplar Bluff saw masked protesters light an American flag on fire, then drop it to the ground during a rowdy demonstration in Ferguson. Within seconds, the soldiers crossed into the fray and rescued the charred remains...

We witnessed the Cape Girardeau fire/police departments and other local fire departments respond to a home fire in our neighborhood this week. They were truly unbelievable. We are so fortunate to have these professionals serving our community, and we should thank them every time we get a chance. Happy and safe holidays to them all!...

* Emergency medical service on West Vale Drive. n Emergency medical service on Francis Drive. n Emergency medical service on Travelers Way. n A lockout on South Farmington Road. n An alarm on North Missouri Street. n A call on East Jackson Boulevard...

* At 4:12 a.m., medical assist on Morgan Oak Street. n At 8:33 a.m., medical assist on Morgan Oak Street. n At 8:54 a.m., medical assist on Maria Louise Lane. n At 8:56 a.m., medical assist on South Sprigg Street. n At 9:03 a.m., medical assist on Rose Street...

For Matt Buttrey, everything started with a sense of wonder at the scenery on awards shows and TV performances. He started building his own out of cardboard and paper. "Then I graduated to Legos," he said. "I would play different musicals on my brother's 8-track player. It's always been a part of me even then, when I didn't really know that that was somebody's job."...

Native Americans used every part of the animals they harvested, sometimes using the hide to make leather jewelry. This free program, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, lets participants try their hands at making animal and plant-related or American Indian jewelry from leather. All supplies will be provided. More information is available at mdc.mo.gov/capenaturecenter or by calling 573-290-5218...

Rita Marie Yarborough, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Monticello House in Jackson. She was born Oct. 12, 1926, in Oran, Missouri, to Leo H. and Clara D. Diebold Compas. At the age of 16, Rita moved to California to join the Air Defense and proudly became one of the elite Rosie the Riveters. Due to her tiny size, she was an asset to the smaller cockpit area details...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Elizabeth Gail Craver Wong, 72, of Monrovia, California, formerly of Cairo, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California. She was born Aug. 27, 1942, in Cairo, to M.L. "Dutch" and Margaret Dean Craver...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Donald C. Weiss, 84, of Perryville died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Service is private. Miller Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Franklin John Sander Jr., 77, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at his home. He was born Nov. 24, 1937, in Cape Girardeau to Franklin John Sr. and Margaret Wiseman Sander. He and Shirley Pruitt were married July 3, 1993, at Cape Girardeau. She preceded him in death Nov. 5, 2012...

Jerry Lynn Rose, 82, of Jackson left this world to join his wife Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at his home. He was born Aug. 30, 1932, in Cape Girardeau, to Guy V. and Thelma E. Dillingham Rose. He and Lois Roberta Mize were married July 4, 1952, in Hernando, Mississippi. She preceded him in death Dec. 2, 2014...

The Rev. William "Bill" Reid, 85, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Lilbourn, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Aug. 15, 1929, in Pharoah, Oklahoma, to Chester "Check" and Nina Webb Reid. He and Alfreda Vines were married Oct. 14, 1949, in Piggott, Arkansas...

Our most beloved Danette Marie Ketcher, 43, of Cape Girardeau lost her four-year, courageous battle with breast cancer and was called home to our Heavenly Father, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

Dorothy "Dotty" Hagan, 69, of St. Mary, Missouri, died Jan. 1, 2015, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville, Missouri. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Young and Sons Funeral Home and from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Hutchens Funeral Home, 675 Graham Road, Florissant, Missouri...

Walter Berrel Guilliams, 81, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 12, 1933, in Doniphan, Missouri, to Marvin B. and Joy Hunt Guilliams. He and Ruth Ann Sander were married June 6, 1958, at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Billy E. Dunning, 65, of Tamms died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at his home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Patricia Coleson officiating...

James M. Bunton, 83, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Bettye Louise Gerhardt Boyd, 91, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at her home with family at her side. She was born March 21, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Julius William and Rosalia Fredrica Woeltje Gerhardt. She graduated from a Cape Girardeau Central High School, attended Yale School of Art, and then married Robert Boyd on April 11, 1954, in Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- George R. Barker, 92, formerly of Marble Hill, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014. Arrangements are incomplete at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team's Ohio Valley Conference opener quickly took a turn for the worse in the second half against Belmont on Thursday at the Curb Event Center.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When Missouri played its best this season, the Tigers stopped the run or ran well themselves. Minnesota found out what happens when the Tigers are successful at both. Marcus Murphy ran for 159 yards, Russell Hansbrough added 114 yards and a touchdown, and No. 16 Missouri beat Minnesota 33-17 on Thursday in the Citrus Bowl...

EUGENE, Ore. -- State police are investigating whether the driver of a tanker truck was drunk when it crashed and spilled thousands of baby salmon onto a road in western Oregon. Officials estimate 11,000 juvenile salmon died in Tuesday's wreck on state Highway 126 east of Eugene. The fish were going to be released in a river south of Eugene. State police Lt. Josh Brooks said an initial blood test showed the driver had a blood- alcohol level more than three times the legal limit...

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Mario Cuomo, a son of Italian immigrants who became an eloquent spokesman for a generation of liberal Democrats during his three terms as governor of New York but couldn't quite bring himself to run for president, has died. He was 82...

LIVE OAK, Fla. -- On a sticky hot Sunday in August 1952, a wealthy black woman named Ruby McCollum walked through the "colored entrance" of a doctor's office in the small north Florida town of Live Oak and fatally shot a white doctor, state Sen.-elect Clifford Leroy Adams...

Father God, may the peace of Jesus Christ rule in us always. Amen.

It's time for the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team to realize its potential. It's time for the Redhawks to accept their ability to be great -- to own it, appreciate it, even show it off for the world to see. Above all, it's time to take advantage of it...

There still is time to take in the range of creativity that is the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's Regional Juried Art Exhibition. The show, which ends Jan. 31, may be viewed at 32 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt wrote two words on the board following his team's Ohio Valley Conference contest against Tennessee State on Saturday night -- "Expect it."

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team knew exactly what to expect against Tennessee State on Saturday night at the Gentry Center. The Redhawks also knew exactly the reason they weren't able to complete a comeback against the Tigers in their 62-55 defeat to fall to 7-8 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Today is Saturday, Jan. 3, the third day of 2015. There are 362 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 3, 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that the United States had terminated diplomatic relations with Cuba, after the Havana government said it was limiting the number of U.S. Embassy and Consulate personnel allowed in the country...

Property along a 5,890-foot-long stretch of Cape LaCroix Creek is being appraised as the first step toward acquiring land needed for part of a $30 million flood-control project; the appraisal work is being done by the Corps of Engineers at a cost to the city of Cape Girardeau of $45,000...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Saturday.

When the Central boys basketball team has played its best this season, the Tigers have gotten looks in transition and have been able to make big stops on the other end of the floor. The Tigers found out what happens when they're unsuccessful at both against Helias Catholic on Friday night...

Beth Cox Scott City, Missouri Compliance director, Blue Cross Blue Shield What do you think was the most remarkable news story of 2014? Well for me it was the start of the health-care exchange; it impacted the entire country, I believe. January is National Soup Month. What's your favorite soup?...

KUTTAWA, Ky. -- Bleeding and alone, 7-year-old Sailor Gutzler had survived a plane crash that killed her family. She walked through about a mile of woods and briar patches, wearing only a short-sleeve shirt, shorts and no shoes in near-freezing temperatures when she saw a light in the distance...

The Bible verse Michael Gardner found as he turned over his page-a-day calendar Friday morning caught him by surprise. He read the verse aloud to the standing-room-only crowd that packed the courtroom Friday afternoon at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau:...

Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger and Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO John Mehner on Friday predicted 2015 would be a prosperous year for the city and business community. They also answered questions about economic development and projects from the audience at First Friday Coffee...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The fatal police shooting of Michael Brown has prompted a flurry of legislation in his home state, where politicians are proposing to curb police tactics, prosecutorial powers and even traffic fines in an attempt to address an array of societal concerns that have fueled nationwide protests...

When Emily Blattel started The Cake Mom and Co. with her best friend, Jennifer Yarbro, in 2008, she thought hers would be more of a marketing position. "I baked cakes, and I ate cakes, but I'd just buy sprinkles at Schnucks and stuff," she said, describing her typical culinary endeavors up to that point. "I just did it as a whim."...

Victoria Blue knows the majority of the children at her school in Chaffee, Missouri, aren't spending their weekends building robots and that it's not traditionally the "coolest" thing a senior does with her time. But she doesn't care; she's having fun...

The last sunrise of 2014 proved to be a spectacular one!! It started out beautifully but then the red rays shot up through the clouds making it totally awesome!! Love it!!

This was the beginning of the last sunrise of 2014. What a gorgeous sight it was!!

Joe Beggs member of Notre Dame's winning robotics team.

Notre Dame's winning robotics team

Today is Sunday, Jan. 4, the fourth day of 2015. There are 361 days left in the year. Today's Highlights in History: On Jan. 4, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his "Great Society." American-born British poet T.S. Eliot died in London at age 76...

Submitted photo by Adelaide Parsons Residents and staff of Chateau Girardeau donated winter hats, scarves and gloves to children at its partner school, Franklin Elementary School.

Submitted photo Staff and students of Clippard Elementary donated $2,381.43 to United Way of Southeast Missouri's 2014 campaign.

Submitted photo Manac Trailers USA Inc. in Oran, Missouri, recently donated turkeys to the Chaffee Oaks Nutrition Center, which provides meals to senior citizens in Scott County. On behalf of the center's director, Susie Probst, Sandra Whitmore accepted the turkeys from Chuck Holbrook, Manac Trailers representative...

Submitted photo Staff and students of Cape Central Middle School donated $1,744.97 to United Way of Southeast Missouri's 2014 campaign.

Submitted photo Community Counseling Center Foundation was awaded $5,000 by Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples Inc. From left are Tracy Struttman, Staples area sales manager; John Whitehead, Staples B2B sales consultant; Wayne Pettit, the center's employment specialist coordinator; Kathy Huck, the center's perchasing agent; and Mary Burton, the foundation's executive director...

Anthony and Pamela Cagle of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Courtney L. Cagle, to David H. Willingham, both of Jackson. He is the son of Bob and Pat Willingham of Cape Girardeau. Courtney received a bachelor of science degree in agribusiness from Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed by UPS...

PASADENA, Calif. -- My love of 100-year-old California Craftsman bungalows -- those low-slung, early 20th century Arts and Crafts-era homes known for their clean, horizontal lines and sturdy woodwork -- runs long and deep. I grew up in one in Hollywood, outfitted with dark, wooden, built-in cabinets and exposed beams, and my family lives in one in South Pasadena, northeast of downtown Los Angeles, with a swooping Japanese-style roof. ...

The Jacob Risk and Erin Corkery-Risk Scholarship has been established through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. Jacob Risk and Erin Corkery-Risk of St. Louis made a $5,000 gift to establish the scholarship. The gift will be matched with an additional $5,000 through the foundation's Honoring Tradition -- Inspiring Success Comprehensive Campaign. ...

The Stifel Corporate Scholarship has been established through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. Stifel Corporate of St. Louis made a $5,000 gift to establish the scholarship, which was matched with an additional $5,000 in proceeds from the foundation's Rotary Golf Tournament. ...

** Donations to Christmas for the Elderly The Elderly from on High donated $240 to Christmas for the Elderly. The Old Goats Coffee Group donated $1,350 to Christmas for the Elderly. The group has given more than $7,000 to the program over the years.

Submitted by Dennis and Barbara Underwood Holly and the ivy Holly's birthday was Christmas Day. She loves to play in this ivy.

Submitted Chevelle, a 2 1/2 year old boxer mix with lots of energy, is crate trained, neutered and ready to go home. If you have room in your heart and home for Chevelle, please go to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri or call 334-5837.

The prospect of writing New Year's resolutions reminds me of a column I read by a writer named Marilyn Schwartz. She reported that a lady planning a dinner party put out an invitation to her guest list, all women, telling them they were to bring a covered dish and their obituaries. Obviously, she was planning a very interesting activity for the evening as each shared what they planned and hoped for their lives...

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Jim Joseph Ward. Happy New Year! The birthdays and anniversaries are back, by popular demand! Because of space limitations, we ask that you keep us apprised of changes so we can keep our calendar current. Email me or leave a message...

It is four days into the new year. Time enough for New Years' resolutions recently made already to be broken. Here's one I hope will endure for me: Keep things simple. Simplicity is required when speaking to small children or to seniors with memory impairment. For everyone in between, simplicity is usually cast to the four winds...

This Christmas I was blessed with the gift of coming home from Athens to surprise my family. Their joy at having me here and my joy at being here with them is making me think once again about how much our presence is a gift to the world and the people in our lives...

While Betty Lowrey had developed several manuscripts and had a few fictional characters evolving in her mind, it wasn't until her husband, Bob, encouraged her to take a gamble that her ambition of becoming a published author paid off. "My husband and I have been involved in farming all our lives, and farming is a gamble. He encouraged me to submit a manuscript. He said, 'Think of it as a crop, and we'll see if it pays off,'" Lowrey said...

I called a friend and relative of mine the other day and wished Maurice a happy birthday. While we were visiting we got to talking about me using a CPAP machine. His wife, Gladyth, believes he needs to be on one. There seems to be a hesitancy on getting the sleep study done and then on using the CPAP machine. Well, I've been there and done that...

If you would like a bit of inspiration to start 2015, we hope you read the story of Blake Schlitt in the Dec. 29 Southeast Missourian. Schlitt attends Oran High School and plays basketball. But an accident in 2013 nearly derailed any future time playing the game he loves. In 2013 the junior forward volunteered with a church group called CYC (Cool Young Christians). While preparing dinner at the church his left hand was caught in a meat grinder...

** Nice person; ** Abortion, priorities; ** Stock market; ** Employment figures; ** Hillary Clinton?; ** Pope Francis; ** Limbaugh columns; ** Thanks to police; ** Defense dollars; ** Pope's stand; ** Bowen column

Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, we place our hope in you. Amen.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A moose buried by an avalanche had its luck changed by three men passing on snowmobiles. Marty Mobley, Rob Uphus and Avery Vunichich were on an outing Dec. 28 at Hatcher Pass when they passed a hillside that had ski and moose tracks. When they returned an hour later, an avalanche had covered the tracks. Mobley said he saw something move in the debris, and it was a snout. After 10 minutes of digging, the moose stood and ran off...

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia -- Indonesian officials said Saturday they were confident wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501 had been found after sonar equipment detected four massive objects on the ocean floor. The biggest piece, measuring 59 feet long and 18 feet wide, appeared to be part of the jet's body, said Henry Bambang Soelistyo, chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency...

NEW YORK -- Mayor Bill de Blasio and police commissioner William Bratton drew salutes from some officers Saturday as they were arrived at the wake of a second New York Police Department officer killed in an ambush shooting. The gesture of respect during the calling hours for officer Wenjian Liu contrasted with back-turning insults hundreds of officers displayed last week toward video screens showing the mayor speaking at the funeral of Liu's police partner, Rafael Ramos...

NEW YORK -- A suspected al-Qaida terrorist charged in the 1998 attacks on embassies in east Africa that killed more than 200 people has died in federal custody days before his trial was to start. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a court filing Abu Anas al-Libi, also known as Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, died Friday from sudden complications "arising out of his long-standing medical problems."...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis officials have settled two more lawsuits with people who said they were jailed because of mistakes. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Cedric Wright received $5,000, and Shannon Renee McNeal was paid $18,750. Wright was arrested for stealing beer and a bag of chips in 2011 but also jailed on charges for another man. He spent more than eight weeks there before being released...

St. Louis plans new approach on panhandling ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis city and civic leaders are planning new strategies aimed at curbing panhandling in the downtown area. Despite years of complaints, the number of panhandlers appears to be growing. Officials worry that many panhandlers are becoming more aggressive...

James A. Furey, 83, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Jackson Manor. He was born Oct. 2, 1931, in Denver, son of Algernon and Mary Dolan Furey. He and Pat Smith were married Jan. 30, 1954. James was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson. He retired from Kmart in 1993. He was an avid golfer, achieving a hole-in-one on two occasions...

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Jeffery Biby, 58, of Park Hills departed this life Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. He was born Sept. 28, 1956, in Chaffee, Missouri, to David and Bonnie Totty Biby. Survivors include a daughter, Tina (Dale) Probst; a brother, Carl Biby; two sisters, Angie (Larry) Hayes and Renee (Dean) Wampler; two nieces; two nephews, and two grandchildren...

Nina R. Arnhart, 94, of Jackson died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at her daughter's home in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 10 at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum...

Terry D. Pierce, 61, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Oct. 11, 1953, in Cape Girardeau to Melvin D. and Betty J. Jones Pierce. Terry was a member of Sigma Tau at Southeast Missouri State University, where he received a bachelor's degree. He also had lived in Arlington, Texas...

Dorothy M. Cox, 93, of Chatsworth, Georgia, passed away Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Chatsworth, due to sudden acute illnesses and Alzheimer's disease. She was born April 15, 1921, in St. Louis to Joseph and Emma Lindhorst. Dorothy had been an active member of La Croix United Methodist Church and past secretary, vice president and president of the Lions Club in Cape Girardeau...

Jerry Lynn White, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Monticello House in Jackson. He was born July 29, 1940, in Blytheville, Arkansas, to Montie and Alta Davis White. He and Nancy Williams were married Oct. 11, 1958, at Bloomfield, Missouri...

James Patrick Gill, 54, of Chillicothe, Illinois, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at his home. Visitation will be from noon until service time Jan. 9 at Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 9 at the funeral home...

Calvin Walter Break Sr., 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Dec. 4, 1925, in Cape Girardeau to Haisten and Janie E. Wolters Break. He and Virginia M. Borchelt were married Sept. 7, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills...

Rita Mae Carver, 84, of East Cape Girardeau, Illinois, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 5, 1930, in McClure, Illinois to Dewey and Nadine Goodman Phillips. She graduated from McClure High School in 1949...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Neal Reagan, 86, of Ullin died at 6:40 am Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at his home. He was born July 5, 1928, in Mounds, Illinois, son of Cyrus and Eva Wilkerson Reagan. Neal married Glendora Harpe on Sept. 23, 1950, and they enjoyed 64 years of faithful marriage...

Wilma Buscigilo, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are in complete at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Willie Mae Mayberry, age 79, of Jackson passed away Friday, Jan 2, 2015, at her home. She was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Center Ridge, Arkansas, daughter of Orville and Pauline Peterson Henderson. She and the Rev Charles Mayberry were married April 7, 1954, in Kennett, Missouri...

Dorothy Houchins Dorothy Houchins, 91, of Wickliffe, Kentucky, passed away at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at Life Care Nursing Home. Services will be held at Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Wickliffe at 11 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Larry Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn cemetery in Bardwell, Kentucky. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home...

DELTA Mo., -- Larry Ritchie Jr., 69, of Delta passed away Friday evening, Jan. 2, 2015, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Chapel in Chaffee, Missouri.

Daughter to Betty SueLynn Johnson of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Hospital, 1:04 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. Name, Kyah Faith. Weight, 7 pounds, 10 ounces. Sixth child, fourth daughter. Ms. Johnson is the former Betty Wolford, daughter of Dai Coomer and Betty Coomer of Cape Girardeau. She is employed by Extra Hands Inc...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. DWI n Kasey Jane King of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of DWI. Arrests n Megan Michelle Sisk, 18, and Carla Gene Moit, 24, both of Cape Girardeau, were arrested on suspicion of stealing from Wal-Mart...

A replacement project for a water main on West Main Street in Jackson is scheduled to begin Monday. The main is between the 800 and 1000 blocks of West Main Street. Portions of the street will be limited to local traffic between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. while construction is underway. A detour along West Jackson Boulevard leading to Farmington Road will be available for all other through-traffic...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- As she enters her second full term, state Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, is preparing for the first regular session of the 98th Missouri General Assembly that convenes at noon Wednesday in Jefferson City, Missouri. Rehder, who was elected to her first two-year term in November 2012, represents District 148, which comprises parts of Scott and Mississippi counties. ...

A new judge and a new presiding commissioner began work Friday in Butler County. John Shock was sworn in Wednesday afternoon as the Division III judge, while Vince Lampe became the new presiding commissioner. He replaces Ed Strenfel, who served eight years...

An Illinois woman and four young children sustained minor injuries in a crash Friday morning in Cape Girardeau, police reported. Shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, Zachary T. Baker, 19, of Jackson was driving a pickup truck south on Perryville Road when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed the centerline and struck the driver's side of a northbound minivan driven by Ashley N. Sturm, 32, of McClure, Illinois, Cape Girardeau police reported Friday...

A Millersville man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after a traffic crash Friday morning in Cape Girardeau County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported. Charles E. Bigham, 28, was driving east on Route OO two miles west of Gordonville when the 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier he was in crossed the centerline and struck a 2007 Dodge Ram in the side, totaling both vehicles, the patrol reported...

State officials are investigating a fatal house fire that occurred in Tamms, Illinois, early Wednesday morning. Bill Dunning, 65, died in the blaze that began about 5 a.m., although officials said other family members were able to escape. The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating, with the assistance of the Illinois State Police. A spokesperson said no additional details about the fire were available Friday, citing the ongoing investigation...

The progress of the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team under coach Ty Margenthaler hasn't always been easy to track. There was the 2-22 first season at the beginning of a daunting rebuilding job followed by an encouraging 11-18 season in Year 2, when the Redhawks finished 5-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri needed a spark Saturday against Lipscomb. Looking lethargic early, the Tigers found one in Keanau Post. The former junior college All-American scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Missouri defeat the Bisons 72-60 on Saturday...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Matt Beleskey was a pugnacious grinder for most of his NHL career until this season, when he has surprised just about everybody by becoming the Anaheim Ducks' leading goal-scorer. The Ducks needed every bit of Beleskey's newfound scoring touch to edge Martin Brodeur and the St. Louis Blues...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Friday.

During the past few weeks, I have been asked the same question: "I have a plant in my landscape that seems to be out of place. I want to move it to another spot in my yard. Is now a good time to transplant it?" The answer is, "Yes, now during the dormant season, is a good time to dig up and replant a shrub or tree that seems to be out of place in your yard."...

My dear friend Cheryl Mothes is trying to help us all start off the New Year on a healthy note after all of the very rich foods we have eaten over the holiday. She has contributed a few vegetarian recipes for us to try. I have tried several of the recipes she has given me and they are all delicious. She always says they are so packed with flavor you won't even know they are vegetarian, and she's right. Give these recipes a try to kickstart your New Year...

This pretty bird with white speckles is a common starling. It has been introduced to several countries of the world, but is native to Europe and western Asia. It is often viewed as an unwanted guest. Congregating in small flocks, common starlings can be frustrating at a winter bird feeder. ...

The Airport Advisory Board has shot down the idea of the city farming land at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport; instead, the board has recommended that the city continue leasing the acreage to area farmers. Cape Girardeau Public Library's new Foundation Board hopes to infuse immediate cash into the library, but officers say a tax increase is needed; while the foundation plans to raise immediate capital for the library, officers say a tax increase is essential to maintain programs at the library.. ...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- The owner of the St. Louis Rams plans to build an NFL stadium in Los Angeles County, boosting the chances that pro football could return to the region, according to a newspaper report. Stan Kroenke has partnered with Stockbridge Capital Group, owners of the 238-acre Hollywood Park site in Inglewood, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday (http://lat.ms/1BA13Ye )...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City leaders are hoping owners of older commercial properties will take advantage of a program that provides low-interest financing for energy upgrades. The Property Assessed Clean Energy program recently helped the Wornall Plaza condominiums to save $34,000 annually after the property owner spent $670,000 to upgrade old boilers and lights. The savings will eventually pay for the equipment...

ST. LOUIS -- Sprinkle was transfixed by the reindeer headband with the jingle bells. As the tortoiseshell kitten stared intently at the source of the sound, Ashton Keenan clicked away with a camera in one hand and the novelty antlers in the other, capturing the moment...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Authorities have arrested a man suspected of escaping from a series of Columbia bank robberies on a bicycle. Police said in a news release that the latest robbery happened Saturday morning at Boone County National Bank. Afterward, officers found clothing matching the suspect's attire during the robbery, as well a bicycle and a bag used to steal an undisclosed amount of money...

LABADIE, Mo. -- A proposed coal ash landfill in eastern Missouri has moved closer to construction despite the objections of environmentalists. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources granted a crucial construction permit Friday for the 167-acre landfill, which would serve Ameren Missouri's Labadie power plant, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported...

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Jackson County taxpayers will spend $6.8 million for courtroom additions in part because of an obscure Missouri law blocking Independence cases from being tried in Kansas City. County officials say five new courtrooms are badly needed in the Independence courthouse, even though there's space in the Kansas City court 9 miles away, The Kansas City Star reported...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kerry Hirth always enters her art studio with a sheet of music in her hand. A mild smell of dry pastels and chalk fills the studio space. Colorful sketches are scattered on the floor and pinned to the walls, looking vivid under the morning sunlight...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- The emerald ash borer has already forced the removal of hundreds of trees on the grounds of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The invasive insect is now causing worries in the suburbs. Suburban St. Louis towns are working to preserve their green space, the St. ...

Brendt Cyr leads the way for Casey Cyr of Jackson while taking their morning run to the next level, avoiding a puddle covering the Mississippi River Walk trail, on Sunday in downtown Cape Girardeau. It was 42 degrees, and temperatures fell below freezing by midafternoon. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Legal experts are predicting that elections to decide whether to retain judges will continue to become more politicized, both in Kansas and across the country. This year, Kansas Supreme Court justices Eric Rosen and Lee Johnson kept their seats with about 53 percent of the vote -- well below the usual margins of around 70 percent in most judicial elections. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's legislative leaders have proclaimed 2015 as the year they'll rein in lavish gifts from lobbyists and increase accountability for unchecked campaign donations. But even as lawmakers make a renewed push for ethics bills that have met little success in previous sessions, political scientists question how much will actually change...

Even after living out of the United States for half of her life, Mary Catherine Frazier can't escape her Southern roots. She has spent decades devoted to volunteer work, teaching English, publishing books, consulting with international schools on six of the seven continents and even teaching a world religious leader. Her knowledge of teaching English and understanding the way a language is taught and processed has lead her to write two books about it...

Admissions increases at a local water park, trash collection fees and amending city ordinances on leasing and renting are among the main issues to be considered by the Cape Girardeau City Council at its first meeting of 2015. Today, the council will vote on an ordinance that would raise admission rates to the Cape Splash Aquatic Center. The new pricing structure would increase the cost of daily admissions and group pricing packages by $1 per person. Prices for season passes also would increase...

Bluegrass and Banjo's will be ringing at the Bavarian Halle by Drury Inn on Jan 22, 23, 24th as the annual Bootheel Bluegrass Festival returns for its' yearly event. Thursday night will be an all gospel night with a special appearance by Mountain Faith, an award winning band from the mountains of North Carolina. ...

Mike Nichols was recently was hired as the new chief information officer for SoutheastHEALTH. Nichols is originally from Missouri and holds a master's degree in computer resources and information systems management from Webster University, according to a news release. He also is a certified professional in health information technology and a certified information systems security professional...

Steve Dirnberger and Joey McLane were recently chosen to serve on boards that govern the Saint Francis Healthcare System. Dirnberger, an accountant and auditor at Stanley, Dirnberger, Hopper & Associates in Cape Girardeau, was appointed to the system's board of directors after previously serving on the system's health development board, according to a news release from Saint Francis...

Today is Monday, Jan. 5, the fifth day of 2015. There are 360 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 5, 1925, Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America's first female governor, succeeding her late husband, William, following a special election...

TRAVEL The expert: Carolyn Sandgren (Kempf), president of Elite Travel Inc. FITNESS The expert: Dr. Jeremy Barnes, professor of health promotion at Southeast Missouri State University HEALTH The expert: Kevin Wood, pharmacist at Broadway Prescription Shop...

(AP) -- Mark Twain only lived in Hannibal, Missouri, for 13 years, but many of his most famous stories were inspired by this humble Midwestern city. A visit to Hannibal today, with its excellent museums, preserved historic sites and old-timey antique shops, offers a way to appreciate the impact this place had on one of America's best-known writers. ...

What used to be marketed to boys as toys seems to have morphed into an industry of technology-sophisticated scale-model trains for hobbyists and collectors. Ralph Maxton of Cape Girardeau remembers when, as a boy, he would play with an electric train his father would set up around the Christmas tree each December. It was a seasonal thing...

You may think having golf-course green grass requires hours of work each day, but if you want the best lawn on the block, it's as easy as coming up with a plan. The secret? When it comes to lawn maintenance, it's never too early to prepare your course of action. Starting now and focusing on specific to-do's each month ensures you'll have grass you can be proud of all year long...

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis named 15 new cardinals Sunday, selecting them from 14 nations including far-flung corners of the world such as Tonga, New Zealand, Cape Verde and Myanmar to reflect the diversity of the church and its growth in places like Asia and Africa compared to affluent regions...

JERUSALEM -- Israeli leaders on Sunday threatened to take tougher action against the Palestinians over their decision to join the International Criminal Court, a day after freezing the transfer of more than $100 million in tax funds. Last week's Palestinian decision to seek membership in the international court has infuriated Israel. The Palestinians have said they intend on using their new membership in the Hague-based tribunal to press war crimes cases against Israel...

SURABAYA, Indonesia -- Relatives of those who died in the AirAsia crash sought strength in prayer Sunday, one week after the disaster killed all 162 on board, as rough weather again prevented searchers from reaching a large object on the ocean floor believed to be the plane's fuselage...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- As anyone who has grown up around snow knows, part of the fun of sledding is the risk of soaring off a jump or careening around a tree. But faced with the potential bill from sledding injuries, some cities have opted to close hills rather than risk large liability claims...

LONDON -- Bono says he now has a titanium elbow and may never play guitar again due to injuries suffered in a New York City cycling accident. The 54-year-old U2 frontman suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to his left eye socket, shoulder blade and left elbow, when he crashed his bike in Central Park in November. He required hours of surgery after what doctors called a "high-energy bicycle accident."...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- An Arizona bobcat may have used up one of its nine lives after it survived getting stuck inside an oncoming car. Arizona Game and Fish Department spokeswoman Lynda Lambert said the bobcat appears to have escaped any serious injuries and is awaiting evaluation by a veterinarian at an animal sanctuary in Scottsdale...

BOSTON -- His accusers brandish a confession scribbled inside a boat during an intensive manhunt and a video they say shows him placing a backpack with a bomb a few feet from a little boy who died when it exploded seconds later. His defenders bank on the story of a difficult childhood in a former Soviet republic and his radicalization at the hands of an influential older brother who could have pressured him into participating in the deadly attack...

MIAMI -- Just starting a five-year sentence for illegally re-entering the United States, George Lewis stared at the officers staring back at him at Miami's federal detention center and considered whether he'd risk getting on another smuggler's boat -- a chance that soaring numbers of Caribbean islanders are taking -- once he's deported again...

EDDYVILLE, Ky. -- Sailor Gutzler, the 7-year-old girl who survived a plane crash, walked a mile through the cold, dark woods to safety and then helped authorities locate the wreckage and remains of her family, may not be done helping investigators. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Heidi Moats said Sunday that Sailor is "one remarkable young lady," and she might be able to assist them in determining what brought the plane down. ...

President Obama; Christmas Tournament; Elf photo; Gas price; Big Ten; Fiscal evaluation ; Cruze, Democrats; Henniger, politics; Budget vote; Jeb Bush, Obama; Jeb Bush; Pope and Cuba

We have a number of groups that do important work in the area to feed the hungry. Providing this nourishment for those who have minimal resources is vital. But also important are the other things many take for granted. A story in the Dec. 23 Southeast Missourian by Emily Priddy highlighted other ways people can help...

Wolohan Lumber Co. of Saginaw, Michigan, has purchased the Riverside Building Supply and Home Centers property at 120 N. Kingshighway and will open a lumber and hardware operation here this year. Rumors Inc., a popular downtown night spot that has been the target of complaints, protests and controversies during the past two years, has closed...

The Scott City Fire Department responded to the following calls: December 26 n At 1:10 p.m., a grass fire on Interstate 55, northbound mile marker 92.2. n At 5:43 p.m., emergency medical service on Jefferson Avenue. n At 9:33 p.m., smoke investigation on Main Street...

The Scott City Police Department reported the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Dwain E. Cooper, 45, no address given, was arrested on suspicion of failure to appear for driving while intoxicated. n Dustin T. Smith, 27, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of assault, armed criminal action, burglary and robbery...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. n Dustin Overbey, 27, of Marble Hill, Missouri, was arrested on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and failure to maintain single lane of traffic. n Justin W. Doles, 20, of Jackson was issued a summons for a stop-sign violation...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department reported the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n A suspect was in custody pending formal charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. n A suspect was in custody pending formal charges of stealing a credit card and fradulent use of a credit device...

Son to Kevin and Jennifer Gerhardt of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 9:12 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. Name, Lincoln Hale. Weight, 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Fourth child, second son. Mrs. Gerhardt is the former Jennifer Biri, daughter of Walter and Donna Biri of Jackson. She is an IIS specialist at Community Counseling Center. Gerhardt is the son of Kermit and Cheryl Gerhardt and Darlene Daniel of Jackson. He is a central sterile tech at Southeast...

COMMERCE, Mo. -- Imogene Mayberry, 82, of Commerce died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at the Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Missouri. She was born Sept. 27, 1931, in Portageville, Missouri, the daughter of William and Aby Williams Moore. She married Riley "Tutor" Mayberry on March 29, 1947, in Piggott, Arkansas. He preceded her in death Oct. 21, 2001...

Niclous "Nick" H. Leist, 74, of Jackson died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

ORAN, Mo. -- Wesley D. Harris, 80, of Oran died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Chapel in Oran.

Joyce Eaker, 86, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Anna, Illinois, died at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Southeast Hospital. Joyce was born Oct. 15, 1928, in Commerce, Missouri, to George and Gertrude Peel Johnson. She married Verlee Eaker on July 10, 1950...

Wilma Louise Busciglio, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 24, 1934, in Delta, daughter of the late William Sherman and Grace Belle Gibbons Morrison. She and Joseph Busciglio were married July 3, 1974, in Perryville, Missouri...

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- After scoring two goals, T.J. Oshie was determined to get linemate David Backes a goal of his own as a reward for all his hard work.

NEW YORK -- Small business owners may get more help from Washington in 2015. Gridlock in Washington in recent years has stalled tax bills and other legislation aimed at helping small companies, but such proposals are expected to be on the agenda in the Republican-led Congress. Democrats have opposed some proposals because of concerns about the effect of those tax breaks on the federal budget...

HELENA, Mont. -- Problems with the 2014 malt barley crop in the western United States have resulted in the worst year for malting production in the nation, but beer drinkers likely won't have to shell out extra dollars for their favorite brews. Much of the nation's large-scale brewing is in the Midwest, says Collin Watters of the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, but barley growing has been pushed farther west as corn and soy have become more profitable to grow...

NEW YORK -- Fast-food chains have a New Year's resolution: Drop the junk. As people express distaste for food they think is overly processed, McDonald's, Taco Bell and other chains are trying to shed their reputation for serving reheated meals that are loaded with chemicals. That includes rethinking the use of artificial preservatives and other ingredients customers find objectionable...

The collapse in oil prices over the past few months won't derail the railroads' profit engine even if it slows the growth in crude shipments seen in recent years. Carloads of crude oil spiked well over 4,000 percent between 2008 and last year -- from 9,500 carloads to 435,560 -- as production boomed and the cost for a barrel of oil soared into the triple digits...

1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today n None at this time n Items listed on the agenda n Purchase orders n Recorder of deeds monthly report n The Rite Group Agreement--Prosecutor office n Postage report n Bank reconciliation--November 2014 n Statement of monthly collections--October...

City hall 401 Independence St. Study session, 5 p.m. today n No action will be taken during the study session. n Cape Girardeau County Facilities Study Committee -- chairman Mike Seabaugh n Planning and Zoning Commission report n Appearances regarding items not on the agenda...

NEW YORK -- Thousands of police turned their backs Sunday as Mayor Bill de Blasio eulogized an officer shot dead with his partner, repeating a display of scorn for the mayor despite entreaties to put anger aside. The show of disrespect came outside the funeral home where officer Wenjian Liu was remembered as an incarnation of the American dream: a man who had emigrated from China at age 12 and devoted himself to helping others in his adopted country. ...

Northbound Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make deck repairs to the bridge over the Diversion Channel. This section of road is between Highway 74 at Cape Girardeau and Route AB, according to a MoDOT news release. The work will take place from 7 p.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Jan. 12, and from 7 p.m. Jan. 17 through 7 a.m. Jan. 19...

LODI, N.J. -- The New Jersey strip club that was the real-life stand-in for the Bada Bing on HBO's "Sopranos" has been hit by criminals again. Satin Dolls in Lodi was robbed by two armed men a few days before Christmas. Now, police say someone broke into the club early Friday morning...

Lord Jesus, may we serve others and show them your love. Amen.

The Jackson Fire Department responded to the following call Saturday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two cities near Kansas City are considering making more use of solar energy, a trend energy industry experts say is growing in the Midwest as costs to install facilities decline. Solar energy firms have been wooing Sugar Creek and Independence to build solar farms to replace carbon-based facilities, The Kansas City Star reported. Independence officials asked for proposals from energy developers last month, and Sugar Creek already has an agreement with one company...

FERGUSON, Mo. -- It's doubtful they were aware, but the rioters who torched Juanita Morris' dress shop had strayed a couple of blocks beyond the Ferguson city limits and into the town of Dellwood. Such is the indiscriminate nature of rage. But walking amid the ashes of 28 years of work, Morris was thinking about something else: Her plans to rebuild...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A New York Times reporter is providing little assistance to prosecutors as they put a former CIA officer on trial for allegedly leaking classified information about a botched operation in Iran. Journalist James Risen testified Monday at an unusual pretrial hearing in U.S. ...

The Neighborhood Development Initiative in Cape Girardeau will continue with its second round of pilot neighborhood meetings Jan. 13. The first meeting of the year will be in the Red Star neighborhood, which stretches from Second Street to East Cape Rock Drive and spans east to west from Rand Street to Big Bend Road...

Adriano Grim shoots a layup with Elijah Wigfall watching on their last day of holiday break Monday, Jan. 5, 2014 at Shawnee Park Center. Cape Girardeau schools resume classes today. (Fred Lynch)

Raycom Media announced multiple staffing changes to their stations Monday. Both Tim Ingram and Dave Thomason will be changing positions by the end of the month. Dave Thomason was announced as the successor to Tim Ingram, who has served as the vice president and general manager of KFVS12 and WQWQ, Raycom Media's CBS and CW affiliates in Cape Girardeau, since 2011. ...

ST. LOUIS -- A member of the grand jury that declined to indict a Ferguson police officer in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown contends in a lawsuit filed Monday that the prosecutor in the case has wrongly implied that all 12 jurors believed there was no evidence to support charges...

Fee adjustments were among the top issues considered by the Cape Girardeau City Council on Monday night at its first meeting of the year. The council unanimously granted first-round approval for an admissions increase at Cape Splash Aquatic Center, increasing the cost of daily admissions and group pricing packages by $1 per person. Prices for season passes also will increase...

With the arrival of a new year, a common resolution is to eat healthier and once again begin regular workouts. This year The Source-Yoga 'n More is offering a few fun new ways to exercise, in the form of aerial yoga. Aerial yoga involves using "silks" or nylon bands to suspend a person off the ground in a deep, relaxing stretch. Participants can "invert" themselves by flipping upside down while suspended, or simply practice their stretches while keeping a foot firmly planted on the ground...

Grammy nominated country superstar Miranda Lambert is coming to the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. Lambert is on tour promoting her fifth album, "Platinum," with the hit single "Automatic," which was released in June. According to the Show Me Center website, Lambert's "Certified Platinum Tour" will be hitting the Show Me Center on Feb. 26. Ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday...

An advisory board formed to review three options for potential updates to Cape Girardeau County facilities is seeking public input before making its final decision. Last year, the Cape Girardeau County Commission formed a citizen advisory board to review three options as proposed by St. Louis-based Treanor Architects...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- A development group that includes a company controlled by the owner of the St. Louis Rams announced plans Monday to build an 80,000-seat stadium in the Los Angeles suburbs that could become home for an NFL team.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A state lawmaker wants to increase the speed limit on Missouri's rural interstates and freeways from 70 mph. State Rep. Mike Kelley of Lamar filed legislation recently to boost the speed limit on those roads to 75 mph. Kansas increased speed limits from 70 mph on some roads in 2011...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's revenue is up more than 5 percent this fiscal year and the state's budget chief says that means the governor will likely not need to further freeze spending. Revenue figures released Monday show net general revenue for December is up 10.7 percent compared to last year...

HERCULANEUM, Mo. -- Firefighters on Monday battled a fire at a residential care facility south of St. Louis. The fire broke out before 6 a.m. at Autumn Ridge assisted living facility in Herculaneum, about 25 miles south of St. Louis. Smoke was pouring from the building before it was eventually put out. No one was seriously hurt...

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Police are investigating the theft of a bronze plaque from a monument at Mark Twain's gravesite in upstate New York. The superintendent of Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira said Monday that the 12-by-12-inch likeness of the American writer was likely stolen between Christmas and New Year's Day...

Colleagues and students of former Jackson High School band director Nick Leist are remembering him as a magnetic and kindhearted leader, passionate about sharing his love for music with his students and the community. Leist, a musical legend in Jackson, died Sunday at age 74...

Swan photo taken at the lake.

Employees of First State Community Bank donated $5,092.20 to United Way of Southeast Missouri's 2014 campaign.

Employees of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau donated $12,280.00 to United Way of Southeast Missouri's 2014 campaign.

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 6, the sixth day of 2015. There are 359 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 6, 1540, England's King Henry VIII married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. (The marriage lasted about six months.) On this date:...

Naming buildings or portions of a facility is not a new concept for academic institutions, and Southeast Missouri State University has its share of buildings named after influential people who made their mark on the university. This is the case when an institution honors someone for their support, monetarily or otherwise. The action also serves as a historical reference...

BEIRUT -- Lebanon turned back Syrians trying to cross the border Monday under strict new visa regulations, saying it simply cannot handle any more people displaced by the ongoing civil war. The policy, requiring Syrians to obtain visas that sharply limit the time they can stay in Lebanon, effectively narrows one of the few escape routes left from a conflict that has displaced a third of Syria's prewar population and shows no sign of ending...

BERLIN -- The square around the Cologne Cathedral was plunged into darkness Monday evening after the historical landmark in western Germany shut down its lights in a silent protest of weekly rallies in Dresden against the perceived "Islamization" of Europe...

CAIRO -- Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen is surging in strength, finding new support and recruits among the country's Sunni tribesmen, in a backlash to drone strikes and the rise to power of Shiite rebels who have taken over the capital and other parts of the country, tribal leaders and Yemeni officials warn...

One of New Jersey's "Real Housewives" has gone to the big house. Teresa Giudice surrendered at the Federal Correction Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, at about 3 a.m. Monday to begin serving a 15-month sentence for bankruptcy fraud, her attorney said...

WASHINGTON -- Where's the beef? A panel that advises the Agriculture Department appears set to recommend that you be told not only what foods are better for your own health, but also for the environment. That means that when the latest version of the government's dietary guidelines comes out, it may push even harder than it has in recent years for people to choose more fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and other plant-based foods -- at the expense of meat...

MIAMI -- Lesbian and gay couples were wed in Miami on Monday by the same judge who approved their marriage licenses, hours before Florida's coming-out party as the nation's 36th state where same-sex marriages are now legal statewide. The addition of Florida's 19.9 million people means 70 percent of Americans now live in states where gay marriage is legal...

BOSTON -- Potential jurors stared intently at Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as jury selection in his federal death penalty trial began Monday under tight security. Tsarnaev, flanked by his attorneys, sat at a table in the front of the jury assembly room. Wearing a dark sweater and khaki trousers, he picked at his beard, looked at the potential jurors and looked at the judge...

MILFORD, Pa. -- A judge on Monday ordered a survivalist who called for revolution to stand trial on charges he fatally shot a Pennsylvania state trooper and wounded another outside their barracks, a case his attorneys acknowledge will be difficult to defend...

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker John Boehner's prospects for a new term appeared secure Monday despite grumblings from tea party-aligned dissidents on the eve of a Republican takeover of Congress, while GOP leaders in both houses pointed toward a swift veto showdown with President Barack Obama over the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline...

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland's mayor says he didn't trust a state agency to investigate the fatal police shooting of a 12-year-old boy who was carrying a pellet gun, because he believes the agency mishandled the investigation of a different shooting that led to charges against officers and a settlement with the families of two people killed...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Selah E. Moore, 90, of Perryville died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas. She was born Sept. 30, 1924, in Johnston City, Illinois. She and Kenneth H. Moore were married Feb. 14, 1942. He preceded her in death Sept. 16, 2014...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Nancy Joanne Howell, 54, of Marble Hill passed away Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at her home. She was born May 23, 1960, in Dexter, Missouri, daughter of James Edward Sr. and Betty Louise Jaco Howell. Nancy was a waitress at Rubies Restaurant in Marble Hill and Howard Johnson in St. Louis...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Leo A. Nielsen, 77, of Sedgewickville passed away Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at his home. He was born Oct. 2, 1937, in Thornton, Iowa, son of Christ and Pearl Buck Nielsen. He and Betty R. Clayton were married Nov. 18, 1960, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota...

ORAN, Mo. -- Wesley Dean Harris, 80, lifelong resident of Oran, went to be with the Lord. He passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 3, 1934, in Oran, son of John Melton and Helen Wright Harris. He and Barbara Louise Gateley were married Feb. 25, 1955, at Oran First Baptist Church. They were looking forward to celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary next month...

Niclous "Nick" Leist, 74, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Barnes Jewish Christian Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 9, 1940, in Illmo, to Otto N. and Bernice Lambert Leist. He and Judy McElmurry were married Aug. 19, 1962, at Eisleben Lutheran Church in Illmo...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Kelvin D. Currie, no age given, of Decatur, Illinois, was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest. n Ashton B. Dickerson, no age given, of Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested on suspicion of fraudulent attempt to obtain a controlled substance...

ORAN, Mo. -- Harold Anton Schlitt, 89, of Oran died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at the family home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

Roger Seal, 83, of Zionsville, Indiana, formerly of Scott City, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015. A celebration of life will be from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday at Zionsville Christian Church. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center in Zionsville...

James M. Bunton, 83, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. There is no local service. Burial will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston, Missouri. Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements...

Clara Louise Thomas, 94, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, formerly of Jackson, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at St Joseph Nursing Home in Kenosha. She was born Sept. 21, 1920, in Bowling Green, Missouri, to Frank Leroy and Mary Weitz Sisson. She married Max Thomas, who preceded her in death...

Son to Christopher Maxwell and Victoria Lynn Cantrell of Chaffee, Missouri, Saint Francis Medical Center, 5:31 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Name, Lucas Allan. Weight, 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Mrs. Cantrell is the former Victoria Arnold, daughter of Rhonda Arnold and Dereck Arnold of Chaffee. Cantrell is the son of Susan Cantrell and Ed Cantrell of Miner, Missouri. He is employed by Boomland...

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A New Mexico woman is suing a novelty products maker over a flask that includes her likeness and the phrase, "I'm going to be the most popular girl in rehab." The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Veronica Vigil alleges in federal court that Anne Taintor Inc. ...

As I look back at 2014, it was a very good year for the city of Jackson. We celebrated our bicentennial with a wide variety of activities. We started with a reception in January with officials reading proclamations about the history leading to our 200th birthday, people in historic costumes, a beard fashion show, burying of the razor and unveiling a time capsule for storing items collected during the year...

Highway 34 in Bollinger County reduced for pavement work Highway 34 in Bollinger County, from Highway 51 to Route B, will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. The work, which began Monday, will continue from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, according to a MoDOT news release...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Chaffee girls basketball team has relied on its good outside shooting and fast break offense to provide wins all season.

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

Striking West Lake Quarry workers will appeal to leaders of the St. Louis Archdiocese, which owns the quarry, for help in the current labor dispute with management; around 32 striking workers are planning to travel to St. Louis to distribute leaflets to the public in front of St. Louis Cathedral on Sunday...

Lord Jesus, thank you that we can come to you in prayer and lay our burdens down. Amen.

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Tuesday.

Wild-chill temperature indexes could drop to between 5 and 15 degrees below zero throughout Cape Girardeau County today. In a special weather statement Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, indicated the high temperatures will remain below freezing today through Thursday, with wind gusts up to 35 mph...

EL PASO, Texas -- A gunman opened fire at a veterans' medical clinic in West Texas on Tuesday, killing one other person, officials said. The gunman was also killed. Investigators did not say whether the gunman killed himself or was killed by someone else. They also did not provide details on the victim or the gunman or provide a possible motive for the shooting...

ST. LOUIS -- The NAACP's Legal Defense and Educational Fund, citing "grave legal concerns," is asking a Missouri judge to convene a new grand jury to consider charges against the Ferguson, Missouri, police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown...

A member of an advisory board formed to review options for updates to Cape Girardeau County facilities stopped by Cape Girardeau's city council meeting Monday night to discuss an upcoming public meeting on the matter. He received a grilling from two councilmen on the possible removal of some county services from the city...

SCOTT CITY -- It didn't matter who the visitors were in the first half of Scott City's game Tuesday night. They likely would've been in trouble. The Rams jumped out to a 19-6 lead in the first quarter, staved off a fourth-quarter rally and held on to defeat Advance 69-56 in a boys basketball game.

A party will be held Monday at Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau to celebrate the release of the much-anticipated "Gone Girl" DVD. The movie, which was released in theaters Oct. 3, took Cape Girardeau by storm in September 2013. With hundreds of people from the area involved as extras and a number of locations in the city used for filming, "Gone Girl" was hard to miss...

Guardian Angel School of Oran, MO honored Jesus with a birthday party on December 17 in the school gym. Students, church families, teachers, and staff all donated money that was used to purchase items for a family in need. Michelle Priggel, religion teacher, talked to the congregated students about the true meaning of Christmas. The school then celebrated with koolaid and a birthday cake for Jesus, made by parent, Laramie Bryant...

Starting Point will hold an informational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. at HealthPoint Fitness in Cape Girardeau. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this successful, weight-management program. This free session will focus on the Starting Point class that will be held on Tuesdays at 4:15 p.m., starting on Feb. 17...

See story with Jesus' Birthday Party.

SoutheastHEALTH Foundation will host a Princess Tea on Saturday, March 28, at The Plaza by Ray's in Cape Girardeau. Queens, fairy godmothers and everyone in the kingdom are invited to bring their favorite princess to a fairytale tea. Two sessions will be offered: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m...

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 7, the seventh day of 2015. There are 358 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 7, 1927, commercial transatlantic telephone service was inaugurated between New York and London. On this date: In 1610, astronomer Galileo Galilei began observing three of Jupiter's moons (he spotted a fourth moon almost a week later)...

On the way to the office recently, I saw a sign on a local business that said: "We live in an era of smart phones and stupid people." In addition to the obvious humor, there's more than a grain of truth in that small sign. When the Obamacare architect John Gruber said the national health-care reform act would only work because of the stupidity of the American public, he knew that despite the awkward wording of his statement, his premise was true...

A Poplar Bluff, Missouri, couple are $100,000 richer after the wife bought a winning Crossword Doubler ticket the day after Christmas. Charlotte Aldridge bought the ticket at Darnells Green Forest Grocery on Township Line Road after the holiday Scratchers tickets her husband, Mike, gave her yielded $20 in prizes, according to a news release from the Missouri Lottery. ...

NEW YORK -- AC/DC, Jack White and Drake will headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. The popular outdoor event also will include Interpol, David Guetta and Florence + the Machine over two weekends. It takes place in a desert in Indio, California...

BOSTON -- To try to save him from the death penalty in the Boston Marathon bombing, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's lawyers will probably look for jurors who are intellectually curious and eager to learn about other cultures and religions. Prosecutors, in turn, will no doubt try to pick conservative, patriotic types who have steady work habits, have lived comfortable lives and are sensitive to the randomness of the attack...

WASHINGTON -- Earth has a few more near-twin planets outside our solar system, tantalizing possibilities in the search for extraterrestrial life. Astronomers announced Tuesday that depending on definitions, they have confirmed three or four more planets about the same size as Earth and are in the not-too-hot, not-too-cold "Goldilocks Zone" for liquid water to form...

WASHINGTON -- In a blend of pageantry and politics, Republicans took control of Congress for the first time in eight years Tuesday, then ran into a White House veto threat against their top-priority legislation to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline...

John Buehler hauls in a rainbow trout from Rotary Lake in Jackson on a chilly Tuesday. It was Buehler's first time fishing there for catch-and-release, as he usually joins dozens of anglers on the first day when trout can be harvested Feb. 1. About 1,900 trout were stocked in the lake by the Missouri Department of Conservation during the fall. Even colder weather is expected in the next few days. See story on 3A...

Mandi Schleinger Keaton, 29, of Scott City died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at her home. She was born Jan. 8, 1985, in Cape Girardeau, to Timothy Earl and Samantha Fauss Schleinger. Mandi attended Scott City First -- Family and Youth Worship Center. Survivors include her parents, Tim and Samantha Schleinger; two brothers, Timmy and Kaleb Schleinger, all of Scott City; and maternal grandmother, Carol Fauss of Cape Girardeau...

Larry Ritchie Jr., 69, of Delta passed away Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, with family by his side. He was born Aug. 20, 1945, in St. Louis, to the late Lawrence James and Ruby Lampkins Ritchie. He and Cora Christine Virgen were married Oct. 5, 1968, in Manchester, Missouri...

Pamela Sue Brakhage, 68, of Jacksonville, Florida, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, in St. Charles, Missouri, where she was visiting her son and his family for Christmas. She was born Sept. 23, 1946, in Lincoln, Nebraska, daughter of Raymond Otto and E. Lucile Brakhage...

Jarred D. Schumpert, 28, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, along with his son, 2-year-old Lyndon Schumpert, in Garland, Texas. He was born Nov. 9, 1986, in Marshall, Texas. He and Laura M. Hampson were married May 28, 2011, in St. Louis...

Christian Gauge Pierce, 3 months, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 26, 2014, in Cape Girardeau, to Taylor Christian Pierce and Heather Rene Shackles Baker. Survivors include his parents of Jackson; a brother, Payton Pierce; two sisters, Aleah Shackles and Kaylin Coleman; maternal grandfather, Scott Shackles of Chaffee, Missouri; paternal grandparents, Teresa Burke of Jackson and David Parker of Crump; maternal great-grandparents, Ray and Joyce Matney of Benton, Missouri, Joyce Menz of Chaffee and Eddie and Kathy Shackles of Whitewater; and paternal great-grandparents, Walter and Sally Pierce of Jackson.. ...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Pamela G. Miller, 56, of Villa Ridge passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, following an automobile accident on Sandusky Road near Pulaski, Illinois. She was born Jan. 20, 1958, in Cairo, Illinois, daughter of Bobby Joe and Glenda Julian Miller...

James Patrick "Pat" Gill, 54, of Chillicothe, Illinois, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, after a courageous struggle with cancer. Through his pain Pat talked of healing and looking forward to spring. Born April 18, 1960, in Cape Girardeau, he attended Central High School before joining the U.S. Navy...

Nina R. Arnhart, 94, formerly of Jackson, passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at her daughter's home in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her husband and family nearby. She was born July 29, 1920, in Bellefonte, Arkansas, daughter of Walter O. and Virginia May Nicholson Stark. She married A.D. Arnhart on June 8, 1941, in Fayetteville, Arkansas...

ORAN, Mo, -- Harold Anton Schlitt, 89, of Oran passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at the family home. He was born Aug. 27, 1925, in Oran, to Otto Louis and Mary Josephine Dohogne Schlitt. He married Alma L. Littlepage Sept. 11, 1948. Harold was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard and was a warrant officer for Maritime Merchant Marines...

The Rev. Bill Ellis was honored last Sunday upon bis retirement as pastor of Lynwood Baptist Church; during his more than 20 years of service at Lynwood, Sunday school enrollment grew from 292 to 481. Construction is underway on a new Hardee's restaurant on U.S. 61 East in Jackson; the new restaurant should be open by Jan. 22...

Son to Eric Tyler and Mary Katherine Gohn of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 1:34 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, 2014. Name, Landon Joseph. Weight, 9 pounds. First child. Mrs. Gohn is the former Mary Galemmo, daughter of Joe and Mary Ann Galemmo of Cape Girardeau. She is a cosmetologist at The Hairloft. Gohn is the son of Layton and Jean Gohn of Jackson. He is a project coordinator at TG Missouri...

Organizers of the Men's Prayer Breakfast said they were inspired to host the event to help other men in the community start their year "by putting God first." Marc Harris, one of about eight men behind the Thursday event in Cape Girardeau, said the goal of the breakfast is simple...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- David Backes scored four goals to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night. Paul Stastny and Jayden Schwartz also scored for St. Louis and Brian Elliott stopped 23 shots. The Blues outshot the Coyotes 39-23 and won in Arizona for the sixth straight time with a 29-8 scoring in those games...

Three homes -- two in Glenallen, Missouri, and one in Marble Hill, Missouri -- were destroyed by fire within days of each other.

For the third consecutive year, Missouri's Republican-heavy Legislature looks unlikely to fill a gap in health-care coverage for about 200,000 people, despite continued support for Medicaid expansion from health-care providers and other business leaders...

PHOENIX -- An Arizona agency's posting about Bigfoot is leaving its mark on social media. The Arizona Department of Transportation Facebook post Jan. 1 reads: "We might have spotted a family of sasquatches on SR 260 near Heber this afternoon. What do you think?" As of Tuesday, it had been shared more than 3,700 times. Spokesman Tom Herrmann says his agency tries to drive traffic to its Twitter account using humor -- a strategy that has helped it gain nearly 52,000 followers...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison for taking money and gifts in exchange for promoting a dietary supplement while he was in office. McDonnell, a Republican, was once on the short list to be Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate. ...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Virginia Pecord, 94, of Olive Branch died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Illinois.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Lester Thompson, 82, of Perryville died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Miller Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bobbie Gene Banfield, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at his home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the chapel, with the Rev. Rick Crump officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery...

Thad Bryant Ryan, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. A graveside service will be at noon Friday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

A new year brings an opportunity to start fresh. For many, prayer is key: praying for families, friends, community and country, to name few. It's also a time to give thanks for the blessings God has given us. On Thursday, a men's prayer breakfast will be held at the Ray's of Kelso Convention Center in Cape Girardeau. Breakfast begins at 6 a.m., and the program will start at 6:45 a.m. and end at 7:30 a.m...

Lord Jesus, blessed be your name, for you alone are our Savior. Amen.

Lyndon J. Schumpert, 2, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, along with his father, Jarred Schumpert. He was born April 25, 2012, in Cape Girardeau, son of Jarred and Laura M. Schumpert. Lyndon was an exceptionally vibrant and loving little boy who was full of smiles and energy. He loved his mommy and daddy more than anything and was never far from their sides. He would have loved to grow up to be Spider-Man, his favorite toy and character...

It's not surprising that a girl who, as a tot, preferred singing what she wanted rather than saying it would end up singing in an honor choir at a young age. Anabella "Bella" Donaldson-Michael, 12, for the second time has won a spot on one of the American Choral Directors Association's National Honor Choirs...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's Republican legislative leaders vowed to push back against big government as they started the 2015 session Wednesday with their largest numbers of Republicans ever, a significant shift in power for a place once known as a swing state...

PARIS -- One man sought in the deadly shooting at a French satirical paper has turned himself in, and police Thursday hunted for two heavily armed men with possible links to al-Qaida in the military-style, methodical killing of 12 people at the office of a satirical newspaper that caricatured the Prophet Muhammad...

DELTA, Mo. -- Top-seeded Saxony Lutheran cruised to an easy win over Oran behind a strong performance from Raegan Wieser and an even stronger defense on Wednesday night. The junior scored a game-high 18 points, shot 69 percent from the field (9 of 13) and had eight steals to help the Crusaders maintain their unblemished record in a 60-24 victory over the No. 4 Eagles in a Delta New Year's Tournament semifinal...

The future of one of downtown Cape Girardeau's largest and most recognizable buildings is uncertain, as the Marquette Tower and Centre are planned to be offered Friday in a public foreclosure auction. The buildings are included in a successor trustees sale set for Friday at the Common Pleas Courthouse, although the owner, G&S Holdings LLC, has filed an injunction request to try to stop the sale...

Illinois' First Judicial Circuit is getting a new judge. Jeff Farris will be sworn in Jan. 16 to replace Judge Stephen Spomer, who retired Nov. 30. His appointment, announced Wednesday by the Illinois Supreme Court, will last until a new judge is elected during the fall of 2016...

Southeast Hospital experienced no shortage of babies in 2014. A total of 1,027 babies were delivered at the Hospital last year, including 17 sets of twins. August was the busiest month, with 105 deliveries at the Cape Girardeau hospital. The number of deliveries rose by 14 percent over the previous year, says Director of Maternal Child Services Sheila Beussink, MSN, RN, NE-BC...

It's the tastiest time of the year -- Girl Scout cookie time! Now through mid-March, Girl Scouts will go door-to-door and set up booths at local merchants to sell eight delicious varieties: Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, Thanks-A-Lot, Lemonades, and Cranberry Citrus Crisps. ...

Danny Essner (left) and Jim Frank of River City Rodders present Linda Nash of CASA of Southeast Missouri, Inc. with a check to support CASA's mission of providing juvenile justice advocacy to child victims of abuse and neglect in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties...

DELTA, Mo. -- In a game that featured 13 lead changes in the first half, the third-seeded Meadow Heights girls basketball team felt good going into halftime down by just six points against No. 2 Puxico. However, a bad shooting performance and a failure to stop the Indians 9-3 run to start the second half led to a 57-50 loss for the Panthers in a Delta New Year's Tournament semifinal on Wednesday night...

Today is Thursday, Jan. 8, the eighth day of 2015. There are 357 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 8, 1815, the last major engagement of the War of 1812 came to an end as U.S. forces led by Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans. (Given the slowness of communications at the time, the battle took place even though the United States and Britain had already signed a peace treaty.)...

Parker Lipke is an impressive young man. While most others his age are probably more interested in video games, sports and other activities, 12-year-old Lipke has a heart to help others. Son of Judge Scott Lipke and his wife Ashley Lipke, Parker Lipke had considered going on a mission trip for two years. When an opportunity arose to join a Heart for Africa team and travel to Swaziland, Africa, Parker knew it was his calling from God...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A commercial development project anchored by a new movie theater is another step closer to construction. The Sikeston City Council approved by a 6-1 vote the 60 West TIF Plan and Project after a second reading during their regular monthly meeting Monday...

BENTON, Mo. -- A woman has been charged with child abuse and is being held at the Scott County Jail. Crystal Dawn Kennedy, 35, of Scott City is charged with abuse or neglect of a child and second-degree domestic assault, both felonies, according to a news release from Sheriff Rick Walter...

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans want Congress to address the troubled finances of Social Security's disability program, setting the stage for a contentious debate that could affect 11 million people in the middle of the next presidential campaign. The House has adopted a rule that could force lawmakers to tackle the issue by the end of 2016, when the program is projected to run out of reserves, triggering automatic benefit cuts...

WASHINGTON -- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said Wednesday he believes he can win the next presidential election, offering an aggressive assessment of his chances while dismissing concerns they're threatened by potential rival and his mentor, former Florida governor Jeb Bush...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The start of Missouri's legislative session was interrupted Wednesday by demonstrators who chanted and unfurled banners in the Senate while protesting the fatal Ferguson police shooting of Michael Brown. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who was presiding over the chamber, said demonstrators were violating Senate rules of decorum and ordered proceedings suspended while police cleared people from the visitors' galleries. ...

EL PASO, Texas -- A man who fatally shot a doctor at a West Texas veterans' hospital before turning the gun on himself was a former clerk at the clinic who had threatened the victim in 2013, the FBI said Wednesday. The FBI identified the gunman in Tuesday's shooting as Jerry Serrato. Douglas Lindquist, who leads the FBI's El Paso office, said Serrato used a .380-caliber handgun to shoot Dr. Timothy Fjordbak and himself at the El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care System at Fort Bliss...

PARIS -- The French newspaper Charlie Hebdo's staple is provocation -- and it pokes fun at popes, presidents as well as the Prophet Muhammad. The satirical weekly has a history of drawing outrage across the Muslim world with crude cartoons of Islam's holiest figure...

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia -- Divers and an unmanned underwater vehicle Wednesday spotted the tail of the AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea with 162 people on board -- an important finding because the jet's all-important black boxes are in that part of the aircraft...

How cold is it across the U. S.? Too cool for school in many parts of the country. And so frigid in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area you could get frostbite in less time than it takes to buy car insurance. At least the Northeast isn't getting clobbered with snow the way it was this time last year...

WHITE SPRINGS, Fla. -- A 15-year-old girl who killed her 16-year-old brother suffered years of physical abuse, including being locked in a room for days with only a blanket and a bucket to urinate in, and was sexually abused by her uncle, according to police reports and interviews...

LOS ANGELES -- When Laura Fritz's felines play with her iPad, her fat cat loses the urge to eat, her scaredy-cat loses his fear and her youngest just loses interest. If you've had enough time to play with the tablet you got for the holidays, try turning the device over to your tech-savvy cat. Every cat app, no matter the maker, has something for felines to electronically track, stalk or hunt, such as mice, bugs or laser dots...

SALT LAKE CITY -- Preston "Pret" Dahlgren led what might seem like a perfect Mormon life: He met his high-school sweetheart in Sunday school as a teenager, completed his mission and married her. He is active in the church and the proud father of two young daughters...

Smoke rolls across a lawn behind a home at 227 N. Middle St. as members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department extinguish a leaf fire Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 (Glenn Landberg)

Daughter to Matthew John and Laura Marie Vollink of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Hospital, 5:18 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. Name, Josephine Siena. Weight, 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Vollink is the former Laura Burdick, daughter of Brad and Anna Burdick of Cape Girardeau. She is a dietitian at Chartwells. Vollink is the son of Dennis and Kathy Vollink of Cape Girardeau. He is a teacher at Notre Dame Regional High School...

The spring semester at Southeast Missouri State University gets underway, and the number of undergraduate students at the start of the day is 100 fewer than at the start of opening day last spring; 6,860 undergraduate students are enrolled today. Scott County commissioners and Sheriff Bill Ferrell say the separate sheriff's office and jail building are inadequate, and a larger, combined facility is needed...

The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses in Missouri, Illinois and beyond to be on the lookout for what appear to be bills for computer support faxed from an Oklahoma firm using the name CPU Service Inc. The fax appears to be an invoice, but is actually an advertising solicitation, offering 12 months of online computer support and consulting. ...

WASHINGTON -- First-time homebuyers who obtain government-backed loans would benefit from an Obama administration move to lower mortgage insurance premiums. Under the plan, the Federal Housing Administration will reduce its annual mortgage insurance premiums by 0.5 percentage points, to 0.85 percent. The White House said Wednesday the reduction means new homebuyers would pay $900 less a year than they would without the change...

OMAHA, Neb. -- The Republican-led Congress appears ready to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, but no matter what actions are taken in Washington, the entire 1,179-mile project could be delayed until Nebraska signs off on the route. After several years of intense debate, the routing process is before the Nebraska Supreme Court, and depending on how the justices rule, months or years could pass before construction begins in that state...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Two people are charged in connection with the theft of an excavator from a cemetery. New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens said a tip led to the arrest of Dusty E. Baker of Matthews, Missouri, and Rusty D. Baker of Brookport, Illinois, on Monday afternoon...

MALDEN, Mo. -- A preliminary hearing is set next month for a Malden woman accused in the death of her 5-year-old child. Tina Diann Burton appeared Tuesday in Division II of Dunklin County Circuit Court, said Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff McCormick. Judge John Spielman set the preliminary hearing for 11 a.m. Feb. 27...

MINER, Mo. -- A former Miner city clerk is facing a felony theft charge as the result of the latest state audit. "We found embezzlement," State Auditor Tom Schweich said Tuesday. "We identified missing monies. It looks to us like the city clerks have not deposited about $14,398 recorded by the court as having been received...

* Emergency medical service on East Lane. n Emergency medical service on West Jackson Boulevard. n A call on East Jackson Boulevard. n Emergency medical service on North Farmington Road. n Emergency medical service on Lexington Avenue. n Emergency medical service on Westbrook Lane...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Austin L. Wilson, 19, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of being a minor in possession of alcohol by consumption, failure to maintain single lane and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated...

* At 5:07 a.m., a water or other problem on Hopper Road. n At 10:26 a.m., a water or other problem on North Main Street. n At 11:18 a.m., a medical assist on North Kingshighway. n At 12:14 p.m., a medical assist on Brenda Kay Court. n At 9:48 p.m., a medical assist on Sycamore Circle...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Michelle Diane Medlock, 33, 8 Village Drive, No. 1, was arrested on Scott City warrants for failure to appear for forgery and failure to appear for passing bad checks...

It's something we find in the bathroom, but the toilet plunger isn't just for unclogging the toilet, it also can be used to help us better understand the weather. n 2 toilet plungers STEP 1: Press the two plunger cups together. STEP 2: Attempt to separate the plunger cups...

Thad Bryant Ryan, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. He formerly lived in Morehouse and Puxico, Missouri, many years. He was born July 20, 1928, in Lilbourn, Missouri, to Joseph Patrick and Ola Elgin Ryan. He was formerly married to Phyllis Buchanan 52 years...

Vickie Lee Poinsett, 57, of Jackson died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at her home. As per her wishes, her body was cremated. There will be no service. Crain Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Virginia Pecord, 93, of Olive Branch died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 29, 1921, in Miller City, Illinois, to John A. and Zada B. Smithey Ronnebeck. She married Milton A. Pecord on Dec. 21, 1937...

Dorothy V. "Dot" Hines, 88, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 6, 1926, in Wittenberg, Missouri, daughter of Moses and Louise Schmidt Craft. She and Carl Hines were married July 12, 1941. He passed away in December 1988...

Frank Hicks, 53, of Allenville died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Missouri.

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Annabell Copman, 79, of Advance passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at her home. She was born Aug. 24, 1935, daughter of Frank and Mae Williams Westbrook. She and Ray Copman were married Sept. 30, 1973, in Advance. He preceded her in death Aug. 15, 2012...

Bessie Ruth Cook, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Feb. 18, 1934, in Marble Hill, Missouri, daughter of James "Mattie" and Ruth Caroline Seabaugh Stratton. She and Perry Elmer Cook were married Dec. 5, 1951. He passed away Nov. 30, 2010...

Bobbie Gene Banfield, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at his home. He was born June 30, 1940, in Cape Girardeau, to Charles H. and Marie G. Warner Banfield. Bobbie was employed by the city of Cape Girardeau, retiring from the cemetery division. He was a member of Red Star Baptist Church...

ST. LOUIS -- City officials said Wednesday that the owner of the Rams isn't returning their calls, so they plan to work directly with the NFL on efforts to keep a team -- any team -- in St. Louis amid speculation the Rams are headed back to Los Angeles...

ST. LOUIS -- All three seasons under Jeff Fisher, the St. Louis Rams have been near contending status but have fallen short with one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Adding veterans might be just what's needed to end a string of 11 years without a winning record. Another theory is that the Rams (6-10) need the players they've been nurturing to continue to improve...

LEADWOOD, Mo. -- A tiny kitten is safe and sound after spending four days at the top of a tall tree. Residents could hear the 4-month-old cat's meows, but neither the city nor fire department had a ladder tall enough to reach 50 feet up to pull the kitten to safety. Residents called Randy Beckett, who owns a tree and landscaping business. He used a 50-foot lift and reached the kitten. Mark and Mary Yount took the kitten home to provide warmth, food and water, and may keep it...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Wednesday.

Father God, may our lives point others to you, the King of kings. Amen.

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team began the season with a mindset to improve defensively after being one of the top offensive teams in the country last year. The defense, which is still a work in progress, has been better than it was a year ago, but Southeast hasn't consistently been the same high-scoring team it was...

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team's next opponent usually likes to mix things up on the defensive end. Redhawks' coach Ty Margenthaler doesn't expect that to be the case, however, when his team faces the Morehead State Eagles at 5 p.m. today at the Show Me Center in an Ohio Valley Conference matchup...

Senior Jacob Priggel scored 28 points to lead the Oran Eagles to a 61-58 win over the Woodland Cardinals on Friday at Oran High School. Priggel scored eight of his points in the fourth quarter as the Eagles erased a seven-point halftime deficit to come away with the victory. Priggel was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final period...

In 1794 the Congress approved building six warships for the new nation's Navy. The six 38-gun frigates were designed to be capable of engaging any ships of the British or French navies. The ships would be named United States, Constellation, Constitution, Chesapeake, Congress and President. (The restored USS Constitution, with a Navy crew, is afloat in Boston harbor and is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.)...

PARIS (AP) -- Three terrorists who seized hostages at separate locations and ignited fear across Paris were killed Friday along with three of their hostages as the gunmen clashed with thousands of French security forces. City officials scrambled to protect residents and tourists from further attacks, shutting down a famed Jewish neighborhood, putting schools under lock down and urging residents to stay indoors and remain vigilant...

PARIS -- With explosions and gunfire, French security forces ended a three-day terror rampage around Paris, killing the two al-Qaida-linked brothers who staged a murderous rampage at a satirical newspaper as well as an associate who seized a kosher supermarket to try to help them escape...

WASHINGTON -- Republicans pushed veto-threatened legislation to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline through a Senate committee Thursday, but Democrats blocked plans for an immediate debate in the full Senate. The Energy and Natural Resources committee moved the bill closer to the floor on a 13-9 vote. ...

PARIS -- Police SWAT teams backed by helicopters tracked two heavily armed brothers with al-Qaida sympathies suspected in the newsroom massacre of a satirical French weekly that spoofed Islam, honing in Thursday on a region north of Paris as the nation mourned the dozen slain...

For those wondering whether this flu season truly is worse than past recent ones, the answer is yes. A recent Gallup poll shows December was one of the worst flu months since the polling organization began tracking such data in 2008. The data show 4 percent of Americans reported they had the flu on any given day in December...

Any step forward that the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team took in its conference road games last weekend was erased in Thursday night's Ohio Valley Conference matchup with Morehead State. The Redhawks fell 70-57 to a shorthanded Morehead team at the Show Me Center.

Removal of court services from Cape Girardeau and county security concerns were among the top issues discussed at an open-house meeting Thursday night at the Osage Centre about the future of Cape Girardeau County facilities. The Cape Girardeau County Commission formed an advisory board about a year ago to review three options proposed by Treanor Architects. ...

When a seasoned painter and a fledgling artist recently got together, they had no idea what they would create together would become something new in the art world. Barbara Bailey of Marble Hill, Missouri, and Scott County artist Aaron Horrell both are members of the Cat Ranch Art Guild. ...

This is what I seen when I looked outside on this beautiful morning.

Cape Girardeau native and Track and Field standout, William Shell, has signed a professional contract with Brooks for the 2015 professional track season and has been selected to receive the Special Achievement Ward from the Missouri Sports Hall of fame this year for being named 2014 CoSIDA/Capital One All-American of the Year. Other achivements include:...

The Morehead State women's basketball team was held to 38.9 percent from the floor, missed all 13 of its 3-point attempts and turned the ball over 18 times, yet somehow it was the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks that left the Show Me Center with a loss.

Today is Friday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2015. There are 356 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 9, 1945, during World War II, American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces...

** The debt; ** Jeb Bush, Obama; ** Jeb Bush; ** Pope and Cuba

All of us who participated in Operation Christmas Child (OCC) would like to say thank you for all of your help this year. We were able to collect 24,099 boxes throughout the region. These boxes will be distributed to the children in Mexico. We look forward to working with you in 2015...

Editor's note: The following letter was submitted in response to the story "Students, colleagues remember Jackson's 'Mr. Music' Nick Leist": Thank you for honoring the life of a truly great man and teacher, Mr. Nick Leist. I am so thankful to have been a part of the legion of lives whom he touched over the years. His love for music was equaled only by the love he had for his family, his community, his friends and his students...

It's a blessing to love what you do for a living. Others can tell and appreciate it. That was the case with former Jackson High School band director Nick Leist. Leist died on Sunday at the age of 74. The outpouring of support on social media and to the story by the Southeast Missourian showed how many lives "Mr. Music" touched...

The Messiah Choir performances of choruses and solos from "The Messiah" and other selections will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim, Missouri, and at 3 p.m. Jan. 18 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. The concert begins with preconcert music at 2:45 p.m. ...

Michael D. Hopper, 64, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Southeast Hospital. He was born May 29, 1950, in Sikeston, Missouri, son of the late Tennie and Mary Hastings Hopper. Michael was a simple and caring man, often caring more about someone else and their well-being before his own. He was an avid reader and loved baseball, especially the Cardinals...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- William Denver Payne, 82, of Advance passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Missouri. He was born Nov. 24, 1932, at McGee, Missouri, son of John and Virgie William Payne. He and Marie Morris were married Dec. 31, 1988, in Advance...

Howard L. "Sonny" Kelley, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Sept. 24, 1939, in Ancell (Scott City) to Earley and Muriel Southard Kelley. Sonny graduated from Central High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University on a scholarship he received for his trumpet playing ability...

THEBES, Ill. -- Mary Jo Collins McKee, 82, of Thebes passed away Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 8, 1932, at Cache, Illinois, daughter of Williams Issac and Gertrude Greenley Collins. Mary Jo was a member of Alexander Free Will Baptist Church near Thebes. She retired as a baker from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Jacquelyn Park Moore, 91, of Decatur, Illinois, formerly of Cairo, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in Decatur. A graveside memorial service will be held at noon today at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Illinois, with George M. Bell officiating...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Eleazar Elizabeth Posey, 28, of Cairo died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Massie Funeral Home in Mounds, Illinois.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Dorothy J. Taylor, 66, of Gary, Indiana, formerly of Cairo, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at her home. There is no visitation. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Cairo High School Gymnasium, with Donald Topp officiating. Private burial will be at a later date...

JoAnn Highfill, 80, of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Riverview at the Park Care and Rehabilitation Center in Ste. Genevieve. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home...

Bollinger County's three commissioners -- Charles Hawn, Junior Cook and Jerry Woodfin -- each file for reelection with County Clerk Diane Holzum, who is also seeking another term. Progress towards a new Cape Girardeau teen center is intensifying, says project director Les Lindy Jr.; he says the not-for-profit center entered into a lease agreement for a building Saturday at the corner of East Plaza Way and Sheridan Drive...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- An eastern Missouri city is the latest among a number of municipalities around the nation that have approved body cameras for their police force. The St. Charles City Council voted Tuesday for a nearly $425,000 contract with Taser International to provide 90 cameras and five years of video storage...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Nearly 900,000 people who paid fines for red-light camera tickets in Missouri can apply for partial refunds under a proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed against American Traffic Solutions, which operated the cameras in 27 Missouri cities. ...

NEW YORK -- The stock market is bouncing back from a tough start to 2015. Investors sent shares higher for a second straight day Thursday, erasing the market's heavy losses from the first few days of the year. The gains were driven by a combination of positive economic news from the U.S. ...

NEW YORK -- A computer program that taught itself to play poker has created nearly the best possible strategy for one version of the game, showing the value of techniques that may prove useful to help decision-making in medicine and other areas. The program considered 24 trillion simulated poker hands per second for two months, probably playing more poker than all humanity has ever experienced, says Michael Bowling, who led the project...

PHOENIX -- Throughout Barack Obama's presidency, Arizona has served as a symbol of the nation's real estate crisis and recovery. When Obama visited Arizona within weeks of taking office in 2009, the state was among the hardest hit by the housing collapse, and the White House was pushing multibillion-dollar programs to save homeowners from foreclosure...

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- The folks behind Sunday night's Golden Globes show say they won't address the Sony hack during the big show, but the subject is fair game for hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. "I think that especially in the last couple of months, the girls have been provided with quite some interesting fodder," Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma said coyly outside the Golden Globes' ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel...

NEW YORK -- Dr. Ben Carson's publisher will be revising future editions of his book "America the Beautiful" in response to allegations that the conservative activist failed to properly credit source material. A BuzzFeed story earlier this week noted similarities between passages in Carson's 2012 book and material that first appeared elsewhere...

PARIS -- The younger brother was a ladies' man who belted out rap lyrics before the words of a radical preacher persuaded him to book a flight to Syria to wage holy war. Less is known about his elder sibling, whose ID card was found in the getaway car used by the gunmen in the newspaper-office massacre in Paris. ...

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A 17-year-old girl being forced by state officials to undergo chemotherapy for her cancer said Thursday she understands she'll die if she stops treatment, but it should be her decision. The state Supreme Court ruled earlier in the day state officials aren't violating the rights of the girl, Cassandra C., who has Hodgkin's lymphoma...

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- Never mind the bitter cold of January. When a sick little girl wanted a fireworks show, people in her northeast Missouri community found a way to grant the wish and crown her "Princess Molly." A large crowd assembled near the Mississippi River in Hannibal on Wednesday -- despite the below-zero wind chill -- to watch the show and support 11-year-old Molly McKinley...

LONDON -- From Berlin to Bangkok, tens of thousands took a stand against living in fear, as rallies defended the freedom of expression and honored the victims of a Paris newspaper attack. Viewing the Paris killings as a coldblooded assault on democracy, people from all walks of life -- journalists and police officers, politicians and students -- turned out in cities around the world Thursday, holding up pens and joining hands in an outpouring of silent solidarity...

LOS ANGELES -- Robert Downey Jr. was seeing double at the People's Choice Awards. The star of "The Judge" and "Iron Man" picked up the trophies for favorite dramatic movie actor and favorite movie actor at Wednesday's fan-favorite ceremony honoring stars in film, television and music...

The movie "Gone Girl" now is available from iTunes, and because I had a balance in my Apple account and no plans to spend it, I downloaded a copy. I had already seen the movie at the theater, but because I was an extra, I wanted to see exactly how much I was visible no matter how inconsequential, and if we -- of the background artistry -- got any kind of credit...

Seth Summers, who is serving a 50-year sentence for his role in a 2011 assault that left the 4-foot-tall victim blind in one eye, is contesting his conviction and sentence. A jury in 2012 convicted Summers of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in connection with the Aug. 28, 2011, shooting of Joshua Abernathie. Judge William Syler gave Summers consecutive 25-year sentences on each charge...

Son to Randy Lee and Amy Suzanne Kurtz of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 7:37 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29, 2014. Name, Max Thomas. Weight, 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Third child, first son. Mrs. Kurtz is the former Amy Garner, daughter of Robert and Margie Garner of Advance, Missouri. Kurtz is the son of Alfred and Judy Kurtz of Scott City. He is employed by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway...

Every chair was filled this morning for Cape Girardeau's first community-wide Men's Prayer Breakfast, as Southeast Missouri State University head football coach Tom Matukewicz spoke about living well and growing closer to God. After breakfast was served at Ray's Plaza Banquet Center, the Rev. ...

Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Johnathan Williams III scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Keith Shamburger converted four free throws in the final minute of overtime to help Missouri defeat LSU 74-67 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues scored the final four goals to turn a one-goal lead into a 7-2 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. Alexander Steen, Jay Bouwmeester, Paul Stastny, Jori Lehtera, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and David Backes all scored for the Blues, who have now 20 goals in three games. Jaden Schwartz added three assists and Brian Elliott made 25 saves...

DELTA, Mo. -- For the second straight night, the Saxony Lutheran girls basketball team's defense was out in full force. The top-seeded Crusaders forced a season-high 41 turnovers and only allowed second-seeded Puxico to take 18 shots from the field in a 69-23 victory over the Indians to claim the Delta New Year's Tournament championship on Thursday night at Delta High School.

ST. LOUIS -- It is exactly what it sounds like: The No Pants MetroLink ride begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the St. Louis area. STL Improv Anywhere is orchestrating the no-pants ride that began last year when riders were encouraged to meet at a coffee shop near Forest Park. This year, riders can board any stop before taking the train to the Pi restaurant downtown. It might be a chilly ride. The forecast for Saturday calls for highs in the 30-degree range with gusty winds...

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia -- Strong currents and blinding silt thwarted divers' attempt Thursday to find AirAsia Flight 8501's black boxes, which are believed to still be in the recently discovered tail of the crashed plane. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders are crucial to helping determine what caused the jet carrying 162 passengers and crew to vanish Dec. ...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Thursday.

Allie Cummins scored a game-high 16 points as the fourth-seeded Oran Eagles girls basketball team trounced the sixth-seeded Meadow Heights Panthers 48-17 for third place in the Delta New Years Tournament.

Steven Howard Sterling, 57, of Hodges Park, Illinois, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at his home. Friends may call Monday from 10 a.m. until service time at Massie Funeral Home in Mounds, Illinois. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with David Terry officiating. Burial will be in Mound City National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m., with military honors provided by the Navy and area veterans...

JACKSON The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrest n Scotty R. Butler, 33, of Jackson was arrested on a Branson, Missouri, warrant. Summonses n Scotty R. Butler, 33, of Jackson was issued summonses for operating a motor vehicle while operator's license suspended, and for failure to use turn signal...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Wednesday: n At 12 a.m., a call on Linden Street. n At 12:03 a.m., a call on Saint Francis Drive. n At 10 a.m., a call on William Street. n At 10:29 a.m., a medical assist on Harmony Street...

Lord Jesus, thank you that we are more than conquerors through you, our Savior. Amen.

Frankie G. Hicks, 53, of Allenville passed away Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, while coon hunting in Bollinger County. He was born Dec. 18, 1960, in Chaffee, Missouri, to Larry and Betty Seabaugh Hicks. Frank was a river worker the past 30 years, serving as a captain/pilot since 2001 with Master License Credentials. ...

The first time I saw a television set in a doctor's waiting room was sometime in the 1980s. It was one of the big cabinet TVs with lots of wood and an amazingly large screen: 19 inches. The TV in the waiting room was tuned to "As the World Turns," a soap opera that had captured the attention of an entire men's dorm at my college some 20 years earlier. ...

DAMMARTIN-EN-GOELE, France (AP) -- Two brothers suspected in a terror attack took a hostage Friday and were cornered by police inside a printing house northeast of Paris. One lawmaker said they told negotiators they "want to die as martyrs." French security forces poured into the small industrial town of Dammartin-en-Goele near Charles de Gaulle airport after the suspects hijacked a car early Friday in a nearby town. ...

PARIS (AP) -- A gunman took hostages at a kosher market on the eastern edges of Paris Friday, wounding several people, while the two suspects in the earlier deadly terror attack against a newspaper were cornered near Charles de Gaulle airport. Officials could not immediately confirm a link between the two, but the coincidence spiked fears throughout Paris...

Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance will hold an open house at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 in the River Campus Center Directing Studio. It will welcome back returning students and allow new students to meet faculty and staff, as well as receive an assigned student mentor for the coming semester. ...

People descend the stairway Thursday behind the frozen waters of the Kala M. Stroup Fountain in front of Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library. Temperatures in Cape Girardeau early Thursday plummeted to 5 degrees and rose to 22 during the day. Temperatures today will see little change, with a high of 24 and a low of 10...

After five straight days of practice and over a week without playing a game, the Central boys basketball team was anxious to compete against someone other than themselves on Saturday. "We had a hard week of practice. Coach had us prepared to come out strong," Central senior Andre Statam said. "We just missed playing in games. Beating each other up in practice, it wasn't fun, so it was great to be able to come out here and get a chance to compete and beat other guys that aren't your teammates."...

The Redhawks dropped to 0-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference for the first time since the 1996-97 season with a 57-54 loss on Saturday.

The Redhawks were held scoreless for five and a half of the final six minutes of the contest, which allowed the Colonels to pull away for a 68-55 victory.

Today is Saturday, Jan. 10, the 10th day of 2015. There are 355 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 10, 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet, "Common Sense," which argued for American independence from British rule...

Southeast Missouri State University's interim president, Dr. Robert W. Foster, expresses disappointment with Gov. John Ashcroft's recommended funding for the school next fiscal year; Ashcroft yesterday recommended $32.4 million in state funding for the university...

The Redhawks host Illinois State at 1 p.m. Sunday at Houck Field House.

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Saturday.

JACKSON -- After leading by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Oran boys basketball team saw that advantage shrink to just one point with a minute to play against host Saxony on Friday night. The Eagles made 12 of their 15 shots from the perimeter in the first half, but their outside shooting cooled down in the second half.

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Friday.

"Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak. I was a creative, imaginative kid and it kind of fed that. John Baizley. He's the lead singer of Baroness; it's sort of a Southern rock/metal sound. I met him in person at the Firebird in St. Louis. He's not just a phenomenal musician. He does all kinds of art...

MIAMI -- Florida authorities said George Zimmerman, whose acquittal for killing an unarmed black teen sparked a national debate on race and self-defense laws, was arrested on charges of suspicion of throwing a wine bottle at his girlfriend. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office says the 31-year-old Zimmerman was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault at his home in Lake Mary about 10 p.m. Friday...

The Missouri Main Street Connection has selected the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization to participate in a cost-sharing affiliate grant that provides training, mentoring and technical services to revitalization programs in the state. The Missouri Main Street Connection is a partner with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, whose mission is to preserve and enhance the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of historic downtown business districts...

Now in its sixth year ferrying travelers between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, Cape Air in 2014 experienced 6,511 boardings -- people flying from Cape Girardeau to St. Louis -- with 5,833 making the reverse trip. That compares to 6,431 boardings in 2013, and adds up to a nearly 37 percent increase in boardings since full-year service began in 2010...

A planned public foreclosure auction of the Marquette Tower and Centre buildings was postponed Friday. The two downtown Cape Girardeau properties were set to be offered to cash bidders on the steps of the Common Pleas Courthouse. But an attorney for the Springfield, Missouri, bank that holds the note on the properties announced a one-week continuance instead while a potential sale is evaluated...

In the next few weeks St. Mary Cathedral School will proudly present its 25th annual Dinner Auction -- "Margaritaville!". To be held this year at Plaza Conference Center on February 21, 2015, it will be catered by Ray's of Kelso, featuring delicious theme oriented fare such as Jamaican Chicken and Key Lime Pie. ...

Sunday, January 11, 2015 VFW Post 3838 & Ladies Auxiliary recognized Voice of Democracy, Patriot's Pen, Teacher of the Year, Law Enforcement Awards. Winners are: Voice of Democracy 1st Place Emily Cannon, Jackson High School Patriot's Pen 1st Place Etienne S. Soto, Trinity Lutheran School...

Notre Dame Cape robotics team wins again in St. Louis.

Today is Sunday, Jan. 11, the 11th day of 2015. There are 354 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 11, 1935, aviator Amelia Earhart began an 18-hour trip from Honolulu to Oakland, California, that made her the first person to fly solo across any part of the Pacific Ocean...

Michael and Cindy Seyer of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelsey Seyer, to Klayton Kyle. He is the son of Kelly and Pam Kyle of Oran, Missouri. Kelsey received a bachelor's degree in social work from Southeast Missouri State University in 2010. She is a technician and nursing home coordinator at Leet Eyecare...

Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Rencher of Cape Girardeau observed their 70th wedding anniversary with a family dinner Jan. 1 at their home. A celebration is planned at a later date. The couple was married Jan. 1, 1945, in Scooba, Mississippi. The Renchers have 10 children, 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren...

ORAN, Mo. -- Chris and Gaynel Kielhofner of Oran announce the engagement of their daughter, Callie Marie Kielhofner, to James Andrew Pinkston. He is the son of Jim and Jill Pinkston of Benton, Missouri. Callie received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Mississippi. She is employed at First State Bank and Trust...

Xi Nu Phi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met Jan. 6 at the offices of Red Letter Communications with Sandy Ross as hostess. Seven members attended. The minutes from the last meeting were approved. An invitation was received from Lambda Omicron members to attend a Valentine-themed "Wacky Dinner," which they will host for the chapter at the home of Tom and Susan Benton Jan. 24...

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- When Hollywood films a hit movie or TV show in Georgia, hardcore fans can bring in millions of tourism dollars when they come to get a firsthand look at the places they've seen on the screen. Lee Thomas, the deputy commissioner in charge of the film division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said a boost in tourism is one of the greatest economic bonuses the state gets from providing scenery and backdrops to projects from "Deliverance" to "The Walking Dead."...

The American Red Cross has scheduled several area opportunities to donate blood. More information about blood donation is available at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. Cape Girardeau n Jan. 16: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., West Park Mall storefront by JC Penney, 3049 William St...

This is the time of year when, all across our nation, men and women are making changes to the way they live, to live like they have always wanted. Many call these resolutions, some call them habits, while others refer to them as lifestyle changes. In either case a new way reveals dissatisfaction with the current way...

How would you feel if you believed that bad piece of luck you were experiencing would not last? It seems like unpleasant happenings will never end, while they're making their appearance. You think your misery, bad health, sadness, failure or hard times will be with you forever...

Submitted photo Brutus is about 7 years old and still quite spunky. Brutus is available for adoption at the Humane Society, 334-5837.

We moved to Missouri back in 1986, and lived in the city limits of Scott City for several years. But in the early 1990s we moved outside of the city limits to a small place with several acres. The trees on the land we moved to had quite a few oaks, pecans and maples as well as other trees. There were almost no cedars or firs or spruces or what I would call evergreens...

Every pond needs a good drain pipe and a spillway. Heavy rain the night of Jan. 2 and morning of Jan. 3 filled road ditches, streams and ponds in Southeast Missouri. The upper middle of this photo just to the left of the big tree is where water is overflowing this one-acre pond. This area is called the spillway, and it is approximately 3 feet lower in elevation than the levee that extends to the right...

School is back in full swing after the Christmas break, and our kids are as busy as ever. With their very busy schedules, sometimes I am not sure when they will be in from school and work. I always keep a casserole or soup in the refrigerator so we can have a quick warm-up snack or supper. Today I liked the idea of soup recipes, and these are the ones that jumped out at me. Enjoy on these cold January days...

Did I see a glint of mocking laughter in a friend's eyes when I mentioned the new addition to my garden, a gazing globe? These mirrored glass ornaments were popular until about 50 years ago, when they fell from their pedestals, figuratively speaking. They're now making a comeback, straddling the fence between attractive ornament and -- to some people -- kitsch...

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Julius La Rosa. Happy birthday this week to Marilyn Lindy, Sara Stagoski, Carl Estes Jr., Victoria Viall, Sue Campbell, Karen Griffin, Mildred Chapman, Jean Moss, Debbie Cook, Jordan White, Christy Seyer, Tripp Dacus, Laura Halter, Becky Hahn, Michael Nation, Clifford Barlow, Irven Kidd, Dorothy Heuring, Ann Nordin, Dawn Dowd, Jack Wessel, JoAnn Stovall, Brenda Miller, Mindy Hendrix, Trenton Horman, Amy Obermann, Ruth Ann Sadler, Carolyn Crites, David Slinkard, Michael Welter, Sue Traw, Trish Little, Pam Cannon, Alice Uhrhan and Adella Frank.. ...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission began Thursday night to formally introduce to the public plans to build the county's first courthouse since 1908. The concept isn't all that complex in terms of what the commission (and the committee formed to study the issue) would like to do. But it is complicated regarding who will or will not support the effort...

WASHINGTON -- The House overwhelmingly passed a bill on Friday authorizing the Keystone XL oil pipeline, despite a renewed pledge by the White House to veto the legislation after a Nebraska court removed a major obstacle. The House voted 266-153 to approve measure, with 28 Democrats voting in support. ...

PARIS -- France vowed to combat terrorism with "a cry for freedom" in a giant rally for unity today after a three-day spree of violence horrified the world. Police searched for a woman linked to the three al-Qaida-inspired attackers, but a Turkish official said she appears to have already slipped into Syria...

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia -- A tail section from the AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea late last month, killing all 162 people on board, became the first major wreckage lifted off the ocean floor Saturday, but the all-important black boxes were not found inside. The red metal chunk, with the words "AirAsia" visible across it, was brought to the surface using inflatable balloons...

SALEM, S.D. -- A six-vehicle pileup on Interstate 90 in South Dakota left the road covered in 500 pounds of McDonald's french fries. Emergency personnel in McCook County spent Friday removing the fries from the road. Vehicles collided near Salem during zero-visibility conditions because of snow. No one was injured. One of the vehicles was a semi carrying a load of McDonald's french fries. Crews used a plow to remove fries that spilled onto the road...

Daughter to Brandon T. and Teresa K. White of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Hospital, 7:48 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. Name, Kennedy Eve. Weight, 6 pounds, 3 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. White is the former Teresa Kinslow, daughter of Dawn Kinslow-Dobbs of Jacksonville, Florida. She is finance manager at Procter & Gamble. White is the son of Carolyn White and Thurgood White of Albany, Georgia. He is a group manager at Procter & Gamble...

The Scott City Fire Department responded to the following calls. January 1 n At 2:58 p.m., emergency medical service on Fourth Street West. January 2 n At 3:17 p.m., structure fire on 395 Route M. January 3 n At 2 p.m., emergency medical service on Charles Avenue...

* MVC call on South Hope. n Emergency medical service on East Main Street. n Emergency medical service on Boxwood Drive. n Fire alarm on East Jackson Boulevard. n Stove fire on Old Toll Road. n Fire alarm on Lenco Avenue...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. n Devan C. Stafford, 20, of Marble Hill, Missouri, was issued summonses for a stop-sign violation and a seat-belt violation. n Logan R. Clippard, 23, of Jackson was issued a summons for failure to register a motor vehicle...

* At 7:13 a.m., alarm system activation, no fire, on Franks Lane. n At 9:35 a.m., medical assist on Themis Street. n At 12:01 p.m., smoke or odor investigation on Randol Avenue. n At 12:34 p.m., special outside fire on Themis Street. n At 6:08 p.m., medical assist on Linden Street...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Barrett Chase Hoover, 31, 422 N. Frederick St., was arrested on a Cape Girardeau County warrant for failure to appear for three counts of distribution of a controlled substance...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Leroy Michael Westrich, 87, of Chaffee passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 1, 1927, in New Hamburg, Missouri, to Benjamin Lawrence and Bertha Ida Pobst Westrich. Leroy was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee and St. Ambrose Men's Club...

ZALMA, Mo. -- James Walter Westbrook, 75, of Zalma passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 14, 1939, in Advance, Missouri, son of Walter and Lucille Bass Westbrook. James retired as a sergeant first class with the U.S. Army. He served 20 years in the military, including three tours in Vietnam. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Army Commendation Medal...

A turbulent week of trading ended Friday with U.S. stocks finishing lower for the third time in five days. The decline followed two days of big gains and nudged major indexes lower for the year. A slide in oil prices deepened, stoking concerns about global economic growth. Energy stocks tumbled, extending their losses for the year...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Wade R. Thompson, 71, of Advance passed away Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Missouri. He was born Oct. 29, 1943, at Bell City, Missouri, son of Homer and Lillian Overby Thompson. He and Carol Stewart were married March 18, 1961, at Bloomfield...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Phyllis Jean Stewart, 80, of Dexter departed this life Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. She was born Oct. 13, 1934, in Dexter, daughter of James H. and Myrtus Cooper Carney. She and Wyman Rudy Stewart were married Feb. 23, 1954, in Sardis, Mississippi...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Shirley Ann Smith, 65, of Perryville died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. Service will be private. Miller Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JoAnn L. Highfill, 80, of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Riverview at the Park Care and Rehabilitation Center in Ste. Genevieve. She was born Oct. 26, 1934, in Dutchtown to Dempsey and Dollie Mae Baker Grantham. She and Emerson L. Highfill were married June 19, 1954, at Malden, Missouri. He preceded her in death April 17, 1999...

Norman "Boss" Blattel, 84, of Scott City passed away Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 25, 1930, in Scott City to the late Edward Phillip and Josephine Griffin Blattel. He married Rose "Tootie" Glastetter on June 30, 1956, and she preceded him in death Aug. 16, 2009...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government was not responsible for crippling North Korea's Internet infrastructure after President Barack Obama blamed the country for hacking Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., two senior U.S. officials said, as Congress announced Friday it will examine North Korea's cyberthreats...

The network was crippled. Days before Thanksgiving, Sony Pictures employees in Los Angeles had logged onto computers that flashed a message from a hacker group calling itself Guardians of Peace. Soon, personal information for tens of thousands of current and former workers was dumped online, including Social Security numbers and the purported salaries of top executives. ...

A fire broke out at 1012 S. Main St. in Charleston, Missouri, about 2 p.m. Friday. The fire was in the school bus garage behind the Charleston Middle School and Charleston School Board Office. A school district employee said all students were evacuated and there were no known injuries. She also said she thought no buses were damaged in the fire...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Dexter, Missouri, man was fatally injured about 2:20 a.m. Saturday in a one-vehicle accident two miles south of Poplar Bluff. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred as Trennis J. Talley, 36, of Dexter was driving north on Highway C when his vehicle ran off the road and overturned, throwing him from the vehicle...

Secretary of State Roy Blunt, at a news conference at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport in the morning, outlines recommendations for ethics legislation that would include financial disclosure for all state elected officials and some local officials...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady wasn't going to lose a playoff game to the Baltimore Ravens in his home stadium. Not again. And, thanks to three touchdown passes by Brady and one by college quarterback turned receiver Julian Edelman, the resilient New England Patriots are headed to the AFC championship game for the fourth straight year...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- An impressive streak will come to an end today at Lambeau Field. The winner of the marquee playoff matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers advances to the NFC championship game. The loser is relegated to a footnote in a first-of-its-kind meeting in the postseason...

DENVER -- When Colts owner Jim Irsay scans the field today, he'll see in the Denver Broncos the kind of team he admittedly couldn't surround Peyton Manning with nearly enough during their 14 years together in Indianapolis. Equilibrium on offense, dominance on defense -- a team that doesn't necessarily have to ride Superman's cape in its Super Bowl quest...

ST. LOUIS -- Vladimir Tarasenko tied it early in the third period and T.J. Oshie had the lone goal in a shootout to lift the St. Louis Blues to a tougher-than-expected 5-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. Jake Allen allowed one goal after replacing Brian Elliott after the Hurricanes scored on three of their first 10 shots and took a 3-1 lead...

SEATTLE -- This time Russell Wilson did it with his arm, passing the Seattle Seahawks into the NFC championship game for the second straight year with a big assist from Kam Chancellor. The Seahawks are one step closer to defending their Super Bowl title...

Soledad O'Brien, an award-winning journalist, documentarian, news anchor, producer and television personality, will present the keynote address at Southeast Missouri State University's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner on Jan. 21 in the Show Me Center...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Some of Missouri's top leaders tried unsuccessfully to pressure Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson to resign after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, interviews with several elected officials and records released Friday show...

The 10th Annual Bootheel Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for Jan. 22, 23 and 24 at Bavarian Halle in Jackson. New this year are performances by Mountain Faith, a bluegrass group from Sylva, North Carolina, that has been performing for 14 years. Thursday's performances -- an all-gospel night -- begin at 7 p.m. and include The Gipsons, The Lewises, Bob & Barb and Mountain Faith. Cost is $8...

When it comes to uncovering the history of a home, married duo Robert "Bob" and Kaye Hamblin have dug up their home's roots down to the foundation. The Hamblins have lived at 313 Themis St. for the past 12 years, and still they're finding odds and ends to fix up on their Victorian style home...

Lord Jesus, our Messiah, may we love others as you love us. Amen.

Josh Hensley, minister of worship and media at First Baptist Jackson, has been an integral part of a church transition during the past year. The edifice has been undergoing renovations, indicative of the church's internal shift. As part of the congregation's new look, they hired local professional photographer Tom Neumeyer to take pictures of community landmarks to display in the church...

Perfection wasn't expected in the Southeast Missouri State gymnastics squad's season opener Sunday. The expectations were for the Redhawks to keep pushing through even when they made mistakes.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The writer faces nothing so daunting as the blank page staring back. Amanda Davies knows this. And she meets the challenge that empty space poses. In this particular case, the blank page had been conquered, through many early morning sprees on her laptop computer and marathon weekend sessions. And almost four weeks later, in a vehicle somewhere on the Kansas Turnpike headed for Texas, she celebrated the 50,000th word, the St. Joseph News-Press...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri's flagship campus in Columbia is offering a buyout option for some of its academic administrators. The Columbia Daily Tribune reported that 28 administrators are eligible out of 48 total academic administrators, including deans and the provost. To receive the buyout, the administrators must be retirement eligible and turn 62 by Aug. 31. Participants will receive a one-time payment of 1 1/2 times their base salary, not to exceed $200,000...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Mary Gabel is pretty quick at crocheting MU-themed baby hats for the Restorative Justice Program at the Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Missouri. It takes Gabel, 58, about 45 minutes to finish a hat. After all, she's been crocheting for 40 years. She said she often has to remind younger inmates at the prison that it takes time and practice to be as fast as she is, the Columbia Missourian reported...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- People who want a leisurely bike ride through Springfield while partying with their friends might someday be able to hop on a "trolley bike." Two entrepreneurs are asking the city for permission to bring the motorized and pedal-powered vehicle to downtown Springfield and other entertainment areas. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri has agreed to an incentive package with Boeing that provides the aerospace giant up to $229 million if employment grows and less if it shrinks moderately. The deal reflects worry that Boeing's local employment may tumble as major fighter programs wind down, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which obtained details of the subsidies through an open records request...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The number of homeschooled children continues to rise in the country -- now up to an estimated 2.2 million, including thousands in the Kansas City area. Public oversight of homeschooling? Not so much. In fact, Pennsylvania -- where homeschooling families had to register with the local school district, submit study plans and follow other rules -- recently eased its regulations under pressure from homeschool advocates...

The onset of winter can cause many problems for the unprepared. Among the most damaging issues to crop up when temperatures begin to drop is frozen pipes. As water freezes, it expands, causing pipes -- metal or plastic -- to break. Once this happens, flooding water can seep into floors, ceilings, walls and more...

This year, the city of Cape Girardeau will ask voters to renew a tax that has funded roundabouts, lighted crosswalks and other transportation updates throughout the city. The city will continue with the latest installment of the Transportation Trust Fund today, when the subcommittee responsible for prioritizing a list of projects presents its official list to the Cape Girardeau City Council...

When Adam Rookard rubbed his snot on a fellow cheerleader in high school, he never told the girl it was him. Now, almost three years later, he's owning up to it. This story may not seem like the type of thing someone would want to make a movie about, but it's one of the many life stories of Southeast Missourians that will appear in the movie "Love Chronicles (of the Cape)."...

Today is Monday, Jan. 12, the 12th day of 2015. There are 353 days left in the year. Today's Highlights in History: On Jan. 12, 1915, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected, 204-174, a proposed constitutional amendment to give women nationwide the right to vote. The silent film drama "A Fool There Was," which propelled Theda Bara to stardom with her portrayal of a predatory vamp, premiered in New York...

LOS ANGELES -- Women and minority directors are losing out on crucial entry-level jobs, according to a Directors Guild of America study released Friday. Of the 479 first-time directors hired to work on TV series from 2009 to 2014, men represented 82 percent and women 18 percent, the study said. The vast majority of the first-time directors -- 87 percent -- were white...

Sen. John Dennis will introduce a bill next week in the Missouri Senate that will allow voters in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties to approve a 25-year, 1-cent sales tax and establish an authority to oversee the development and maintenance of a proposed 7,700-acre recreational lake; the bill will make changes in a measure passed two years ago that authorized the counties to approve a sales tax for 15 years to construct a lake, but made no mention of establishing an entity for overseeing the lake.. ...

Our communities never cease to inspire us in the ways they find to give of themselves. One of the many recent examples is the myTEAM TRIUMPH one-mile "fun run" event held on New Year's Day. As reported by Emily Priddy, the participants of myTEAM TRIUMPH combine able-bodied individuals helping those with disabilities run races. ...

1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today n None at this time n Items listed on the agenda n Purchase orders n General and Prop 1 sales tax revenue spreadsheet n Wireless USA representative Gerald Walton n Refer request for proposals received for election management software to county clerk for review and recommendation...

Talk about these low-information voter Democrats, they say the Democrats are for the working man. You better check your facts, because the Democrats are putting taxes on the working man. So, how can you sit there and tell people, "Oh, the Democrats are for the working man," when they put most of the taxes on people?...

* At 7:54 a.m., an alarm sounding on North Sprigg Street. n At 11 a.m., medical assist on Edgewood Road. n At 11:52 a.m., medical assist on Emily Court. n At 12:18 p.m., arcing, shorted electrical equipment on Kingsway Drive. n At 12:57 p.m., a call to Cousin Street...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Eric K. Jones, 25, of St. Louis was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation. n Jacob W. Morrison, 21, 2222 Earleen Drive, was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear for being a minor in possession of alcohol and shoplifting...

Mitchell R. Walter, 61, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at his home. A memorial service will be at a later date. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Raymond R. Seabaugh, 92, of Jackson passed away Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 19, 1922, in Sedgewickville, Missouri, to Aaron and Bertha E. Seabaugh Seabaugh. He and Vanita Werner were married Aug. ...

Kermit J. "Moose" Meystedt I, 69, of Cape Girardeau went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. He was born July 20, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, son to Clarence and Hazel Meystedt. Moose graduated from Central High School in 1963 and received a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1967, where he still holds the record for most points scored in a single basketball game, 52 points. ...

Sheila Ruth Boes, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 7, 1951, in Cape Girardeau to Edwin and Anna Hale Held. Survivors include a son, Terry (Tabetha) Held of Plato, Missouri; three daughters, Tracy Hay of Scott City, Candance Walsh of Cape Girardeau and Misty (Danny) Smith of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Roger Held of McClure, Illinois; six sisters, Carolyn Dinwiddie and Donna Froggatt of Scott City, Phyllis Miller of Chaffee, Missouri, Linda Matlock of Burfordsville, Cathy Medford of Benton, Missouri, and Debbie Gullett of Jackson; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.. ...

WASHINGTON -- A healthy month of hiring in December capped the best year for U.S. job growth since 1999, demonstrating that employers are more confident than they've been since the recession began. Nearly 3 million jobs were added in 2014, and continued solid hiring is expected to propel the economy this year to its fastest growth in a decade. The gains are putting distance between the strengthening American economy and struggling nations overseas...

BOULEVARD, Calif. -- The drones are coming. Not as flying deliverymen that bring diapers, books or soup cans to your home, a vision put forth by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to much fanfare a little more than a year ago. Instead, drones will help spray crops, inspect high-voltage power lines and hover over movie sets to provide directors with new vantage points. They also will work for insurance companies, real estate agencies, ski resorts and dozens of other businesses...

Cape Girardeau native Kenny Pincksten, owner of Prestige Development, is building a five-unit town house complex on Cape Girardeau's North Main Street. The three-story town house row is the first part of a two-phase development Picksten is building on the west side of the street between Broadway and Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. A second phase will include a street-level, two-story commercial building, Pincksten said...

WASHINGTON -- Strains of listeria found inside a California apple packing facility match listeria bacteria that have sickened 32 people across the country, including at least three deaths, the Food and Drug Administration said. The illnesses and deaths have been linked to consumption of caramel apples. Health officials warned consumers in December to avoid all prepackaged caramel apples after the deaths and illnesses in 11 states were reported...

ATLANTA -- The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s traveling Bible hasn't gone on regular display since President Barack Obama used it while taking his second oath of office two years ago. The public hasn't seen the slain civil rights icon's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize medal in recent years, either...

Investigators found five guns and a laptop computer in the vehicle of a man suspected of killing three people in a shooting spree, a police chief said Sunday, but they hadn't yet uncovered any motive for the rampage. John Lee, 29, was arrested following a high-speed chase in nearby Washington after the shootings Saturday. ...

Hollywood toasted free speech in its myriad forms, from "Je Suis Charlie" tributes to George Clooney punchlines, at an earnest Golden Globes on Sunday, where the tender coming-of-age drama "Boyhood" topped all films. Richard Linklater's 12-years-in-the-making movie was right on time at the Globes, winning the night's top honor, best drama, as well as best director for Linklater and best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette...

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia -- Divers retrieved one of the black boxes today from the AirAsia plane that plummeted more than two weeks ago into the Java Sea, a major breakthrough in the slow-moving hunt to recover bodies and wreckage. The flight data recorder was found under part of the plane's wing and brought to the surface early in the morning, said Henry Bambang Soelistyo, head of the national search and rescue agency...

PARIS -- More than a million people surged through the boulevards of Paris behind dozens of world leaders walking arm-in-arm Sunday in a rally for unity described as the largest demonstration in French history. Millions more marched around the country and the world to repudiate three days of terror that killed 17 people and changed France...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court could put the brakes on the Obama administration's growing crackdown against companies facing claims of discrimination against women, minorities and other protected groups. Justices will hear arguments Tuesday in a case that considers whether employers can defend discrimination lawsuits by asserting that government lawyers did not try hard enough to settle claims before going to court...

GRAYLING, Mich. -- A couple called 911 during a storm and described how they were trapped in their minivan as it was dragged 16 miles along Interstate 75 in northern Michigan after it became lodged beneath the rear of a tractor-trailer. The Grand Rapids Press ( http://bit.ly/1KoLUzi ) posted about three minutes of a call Matthew and Pamela Menz made early Wednesday to Roscommon County's 911...

Lord Jesus, may the work we do honor you, our Savior. Amen.

Rice "Pete" Burns Jr. will replace current chairman John M. Thompson on the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority board as Thompson retires from the position, according to a news release from the port. Thompson, of Jackson, is president of the Bank of Missouri...

Dr. Rudie W. Slaughter jr., 83, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

The following is a project list recommended by the local TTF 5 Committee and presented to the Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night: n Independence Street - Gordonville Road/East Rodney Drive to Caruthers Avenue: Widen street, widen bridge over Cape La Croix Creek, sidewalks, alleviate pinch point on Cape La Croix Trail at bridge ($4 million)...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State Sen. Brian Munzlinger announced legislation Monday that would create tax incentives for Missouri landowners to work with beginning farmers, an effort he says could help attract a younger generation to agriculture. The Republican lawmaker from Williamstown said he worries it's too expensive for some young farmers to start out in the state, where the average age for farmers and ranchers is 56...

As Kenneth Bell prepares to go to trial next week on murder charges, family members are placing their trust in a higher court. "We are not nervous at all," Bell's sister-in-law, India Williams, said Monday outside the courtroom where lawyers were preparing to discuss several pretrial matters. "... You best believe God's got him."...

After a series of thefts that occurred at Saint Francis Medical Center on Dec. 30, Kiefner Brothers Construction Co. is offering a reward for information leading to arrests. About 9:30 a.m. Dec. 30, officers from the Cape Girardeau Police Department were dispatched to the construction site at the medical center after a report that construction tools and equipment had been stolen. ...

Cape Girardeau's license office will move from downtown next week; it will be closed for two days before opening in a new location in the Town Plaza. Gina Raffety, managing officer of MCLB Management Co. LLC, which was recently awarded a five-year contract from the state to operate the license office, said the office will be closed Jan. ...

More than 200 animals waiting for permanent homes will have to keep waiting while the state's lawsuit against a Jackson animal shelter makes its way through court. Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary has been closed since late October, when a Cape Girardeau County circuit judge approved an agreement between Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and the shelter that required the shelter to close for 30 days...