Stories from Friday, May 8, 2015

Members of the Cape Girardeau fire and police departments are working the scene of a multi-vehicle accident in the southbound lane of Interstate 55, near exit 93.

Heading into the season, Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Steve Bieser listed four pitchers he considered "interchangeable" in the starting role. One of those was junior transfer Joey Lucchesi, who has been anything but interchangeable.

ST. LOUIS -- A man who was with Michael Brown when Brown was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer last year is charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest over a new confrontation with police. The St. Louis city prosecutor charged 23-year-old Dorian Johnson on Thursday, one day after his arrest with two other people by officers trying to disperse a crowd. Johnson last week filed suit against Ferguson, the officer who shot Brown and the city's former police chief...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents on Friday will consider a tuition and fee schedule and special course fees for high-cost programs effective in the fall, as well as a proposal for the first phase of a Greek housing project. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the board of regents room at Academic Hall, according to a university news release...

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop E will conduct "Click It or Ticket" enforcement operations over Memorial Day in Cape Girardeau, Pemiscot and Stoddard counties, according to a news release. The operations, which will run May 18 through 31, are intended to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes...

About 2 a.m. Thursday, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to an apartment fire on Hackberry Street. Heavy smoke was coming from the Sundance Apartments, but the tenant extinguished the fire quickly, according to a fire report. One person was home at the time of the fire, which was reported to have started accidentally from a fire on the stove that spread to the cabinets...

The Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club will host Adrienne Ross at noon today at Dexter Bar-B-Que, 236 Broadview St. in Cape Girardeau. The program, titled "The Power of an Impassioned Woman," will cover topics such as the uniqueness of women, women's roles in politics, family, the nation and the world, as well as "tools to remaining hopeful in the midst of seemingly hopeless times," a news release from the club stated...

The Better Business Bureau plans to hold a "Shred Day" Saturday at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. From 8 a.m. to noon, visitors will be allowed to shred up to three boxes of sensitive but outdated documents at no charge. The BBB asks that whatever container is used -- box or bag -- can be shredded along with the contents...

A sobriety checkpoint conducted May 1 in Scott County yielded several summonses and arrests. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 137 vehicles were stopped during the operation. Of these 137 stops, one felony drug arrest and six misdemeanor drug arrests were made, a news release from the patrol stated. Twelve seat-belt summonses, one nonmoving summons, one uninsured motorist summons and 25 warnings also were issued...

CAIRO, Ill. -- A bridge that had been closed after being hit by a barge has reopened. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge at Cairo on Thursday morning at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard after a barge hit one of the piers, according to an email from the cabinet...

A 54-year-old Harviell, Missouri, man may face drug-related charges after police say he tossed suspected marijuana plants from his SUV as deputies were trying to stop his vehicle Wednesday night. Butler County Sgt. Brandon Lowe reported he was heading south on U.S. 67 about 9:35 p.m. when a Saturn SUV pulled in front of him onto the Route M ramp, accelerated in front of his patrol car, changed lanes and crossed the fog line, nearly entering the median at one point...

James Killion rides his unicycle Thursday along the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau. Killion's mother got him into riding a unicycle when he was in sixth grade. He said it took him a week to learn to ride it and a long time to get good at it. Killion, a third-year horticulture major at Southeast Missouri State University, often rides his unicycle to class. He also likes riding along the riverfront to practice jumping the steps along the flood wall...

ORAN, Mo. -- Police are investigating the stabbing of an Oran man early Thursday in Scott County. Oran police chief Gregg Ourth said police responded to a home on Rose Street about 3:30 a.m. "We found an approximately 35-year-old white male suffering from two apparent stab wounds to his upper back," Ourth said...

Local singer-songwriter Danetta Mason's new song is picking up traction on local radio and beyond, heading into tailgating season. "The Moonshine Song," after playing on Cape Girardeau radio stations and being placed online, now is being shopped around Nashville, Tennessee, stations on the new music forum Music Row, which DJs use to discover fresh tracks...

ST. LOUIS -- Two Democratic members of Missouri's congressional delegation said Thursday they're seeking to reform federal programs that provide military equipment to police, responding to allegations local law enforcement overreached by using armored vehicles and high-caliber weapons during Ferguson protests...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed a measure Thursday capping some damage awards in medical malpractice cases, three years after the state's Supreme Court struck down similar limits as unconstitutional. "This bipartisan legislation protects patients by making sure that significant financial restitution can be sought in cases of medical malpractice, while also helping to attract and retain health-care providers in our state," Nixon said in a statement...

The measure likely will have little impact on Cape Girardeau JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a bill limiting the powers and revenues of municipal courts, its first significant response to some of the concerns raised following last year's fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer...

Horticulture major Morgan McAdams pulls the dead heads from a row of marigold plants Thursday at the Charles Hutson Horticulture Greenhouse at Southeast Missouri State University.

After a year of remodeling and restoration, Rick Hetzel and Cheryl Mothes, the owners of the Kage School, will be hosting an open house Sunday to showcase their two-bedroom, fully furnished guest cottage, which soon will be available for rent. The open house is scheduled to take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the old schoolhouse at 3110 Kage Road...

As Zack Buck, a student at Southeast Missouri State University, spent three weeks in South America for the Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid" television series, he wondered whether he could endure the last several days. Buck, a 26-year-old from St. Louis, and a woman he'd never met were dropped off naked in Guyana, on the Caribbean coast of South America, last October...

CHAFFEE NURSING CENTER, SKILLED NURSING, BY AMERICARE was elevated to the Silver level of the company's Honor Club for 2015 at Americare' s recent annual meeting in Memphis, TN. Communities with Honor Club distinction meet very narrow award criteria in each of the four philosophy areas: resident service, employee service, community service and fiscal responsibility. ...

Today is Friday, May 8, the 128th day of 2015. There are 237 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced on radio that Nazi Germany's forces had surrendered, and that "the flags of freedom fly all over Europe."...

Since his arrival at Southeast Missouri State University in 2001, Dr. Kenneth Stilson has been accompanied by much positive change. Stilson, professor of acting, directing and musical theater and chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance, worked for 13 years to achieve accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. He also was instrumental in helping bring forth the university's recently opened, $23.3 million River Campus expansion project...

I ran for state representative twice as a Democrat, and although I lost both times, I enjoyed running and learned a lot. But honestly, I'm not a good democrat. I support women's rights but oppose abortion. I support worker's rights but oppose forced union dues. ...

Millions of Missourians benefit from coordinated systems of care. The collaboration among doctors, hospitals, insurers, government and many other institutions increases the quality and availability of healthcare for all throughout our state. The next step in improving our state's capabilities is coordinating care for all mothers and babies. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Senate muscled its way into President Barack Obama's talks to curb Iran's nuclear program, overwhelmingly backing legislation Thursday that would let Congress review and possibly reject any final deal with Tehran. The vote was 98-1 for the bipartisan bill that would give Congress a say on an accord the United States and five other nations are trying to finalize with Iran. ...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Residents of the southern Plains cleaned up Thursday after a night of storms that spawned 51 tornadoes, assessing the damage and flooding under sunny skies but with the threat of even worse storms on the horizon. The storms strafed northern Texas, Nebraska and Kansas on Wednesday and early Thursday but reserved their worst for the Oklahoma City area, where at least a dozen people were injured in a trailer park, and a 42-year-old woman was killed...

NEW YORK -- The unprecedented and unwarranted bulk collection of the entire U.S. population's phone records by the government is illegal because it wasn't authorized by Congress, a federal appeals court said Thursday as it asked legislators to balance national security and privacy interests...

WASHINGTON -- After months of delays and vetting, the training of moderate Syrian rebels has started in Jordan as part of a broader effort to build a force capable of fighting Islamic State extremists, U.S. and Jordanian officials said Thursday. Defense Secretary Ash Carter acknowledged, however, the administration has yet to decide exactly how and when the U.S. would support or go to the rescue of Syrian rebel troops if they are attacked by forces under the control of President Bashar Assad...

ST. LOUIS -- John Lackey gave the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen a much needed break. He made his own breaks, too. Lackey drove in a run for the third time in his big league career and struck out 10 over 7 2/3 innings, helping the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Thursday for their ninth win in 10 games...

WASHINGTON -- Federal investigators knew one of the two gunmen in an attempted attack outside a provocative cartoon contest in Texas might be interested in going to the event, but they had no information he was going to commit violence, FBI director James Comey said Thursday in his first public comments on the Sunday shooting...

By a 5-2 vote Monday, the city council approved an amended construction contract for a new fire station on Mount Auburn Road, ending a yearlong impasse on the project. Workers with Haynes Demolition of Cairo, Illinois, pull down the remains of the smoke stack at the old Florsheim Shoe factory on North Main Street; the site should be cleared within the next two weeks...

Cape is talking about their streets and how clean they are. You should see Jackson's streets. They're a disgrace. We live on Birdie Lane near the golf course. And ever since the snow, all the cinders and gravel that they had dumped are still on our streets. ...

* Install smoke detectors on West Independence. n Emergency medical service on Kimbel Lane, West Main Street, North Hope Street and South Hope Street. n Emergency medical service calls on East Jackson Boulevard, West Deerwood Drive and Old Toll Road...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Nathan D. Jones, 26, 305 Florence St., was arrested on suspicion of assault. n Christopher G. Boettcher, 18, 190 Silk Tree Circle, No. 49, was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant...

* Medical assist calls on Southern Expressway at 7:34 a.m. and South Kingshighway at 11:27 a.m. n At 6:11 a.m., smoke or odor investigation on South Pacific Street. n At 11:04 a.m., alarm system activation, no fire, on Hopper Road. n At 11:20 a.m., call canceled en route to Themis Street...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Shane Anthony Lee Shafer, 28, of Dexter, Missouri, was arrested on a Stoddard County warrant for burglary. n A 9-year-old boy was cited into juvenile court on suspicion of stealing...

Marian K. Wunderlich, 65, of Jackson went to her heavenly home Sunday, May 3, 2015, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at the church, with the Rev. G. Robert Heimgartner officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery...

Robert E. "Bob" Tiehes, 81, of Oak Ridge passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 8, 1933, in Perryville, Missouri, to Wallace and Lillie Mabuce Tiehes. Bob and Shirley Sandler were married Dec. 25, 1953, in Perryville. She preceded him in death in 1997...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Somer Dawn Nunnally, 21, of Charleston died Sunday, May 3, 2015, in Charleston. She was born March 20, 1994, in Cape Girardeau to Raymond Lee and Michelle Jordan Nunnally. Everyone who knew Somer knew that she was first and foremost a wonderful mother to her two children. She was also a loving daughter, sister and was very soon to become a wonderful wife...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Virginia Khourie, 91, of Cairo went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. She was born May 23, 1923, in Fulton, Kentucky, daughter of Alexander M. and Tamam Lily Khourie. She and Fred Khourie of Cairo were married Feb. 20, 1947...

URBANDALE, Ill. -- Paul Eugene "Meatball" Grace Sr., 73, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, formerly of Urbandale, died Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Monday at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms, Illinois...

Raymon Lewis Franklin, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Life Care Center. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery...

John David Ford, 55, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Dr. Shawn Wasson officiating. Burial will be in Stroderville Cemetery at Whitewater...

Julia Marie Buehrle, 72, of St. Charles, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at the home of a sister, with family and friends surrounding her. She was born Aug. 16, 1942, in Cape Girardeau to Robert Henry Jr. and Julia Bernice Cutright Buehrle. She was the first daughter and third child of 12...

Norman W. Birk, 91, of Jackson went to his eternal home with Christ on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. He resided at Jackson Manor the past three years. He was born Feb. 11, 1924, near Tilsit, to Oscar and Olinda Best Birk. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. He attended the church's former grade school and the former public school in Tilsit...

A celebration gala honoring the retirement of Southeast Missouri State University's 17th president, Kenneth Dobbins, and his wife, Jeanine Larson Dobbins, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 15 in the Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast's River Campus. The event will feature testimonials honoring the couple, entertainment by graduating seniors who will perform songs, monologues and dance pieces, and student artists who will be on hand in the Cultural Arts Center atrium...

A full slate of summer activities is planned at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. Throughout May, the River Campus hosts art exhibits, music recitals and concerts, theater and dance productions and senior showcases. June becomes even more active as every department offers summer programming, including day academies and residential camps...

The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center will host a free Mother's Day Tea from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the center, 2289 County Park Drive. Registration is underway and may be done by calling 290-5218. The event includes teas and snacks made from native plants, a garden walk and a take-home planting. Adult supervision required for those ages 5 through 17...

Johnna Cutrell of Jackson submitted this photo of her tattoo by artist John Shelton of 4 Aces Tattoos. "My tattoo is my constant reminder that I have always been and will always be loved," Cutrell said of her tattoo. " There has never been one second of my life, even in the dark days of separation and divorce, where I was unloved. We are all loved."To submit a tattoo, visit semissourian.com/forms/tattoo. (Photo submitted by Johnna Cutrell)...

NEW YORK -- Hidden in the attention being paid to David Letterman leading to his May 20 retirement is the knowledge it also will mean the end of a regular television role for America's bandleader, Paul Shaffer. The gravel-voiced sidekick, who's 65, isn't ready to leave show business, even with the gig of a lifetime coming to a close after 33 years...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville native Chris Janson will return to his hometown for a concert at 7:30 p.m. May 16 at Richardet Floor Covering, 1469 County Road 806. The country artist, who performs regularly at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, recently signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. ...

PATERSON, N.J. -- A New Jersey judge has ruled a set of twins has different fathers. Passaic County Judge Sohail Mohammad made the ruling Monday in a paternity case. It's possible but rare for a woman to give birth to twins with two fathers. It came to light when a woman sought child-support payments from a man she thought was the father of her daughters, who were born in January 2013. Paternity tests showed he was almost certainly the father of one but not the other...

ROME -- By night, the Calabrian immigrant family served up piping-hot pizza. After hours, Italian and U.S. authorities say, the restaurant in the New York borough of Queens was busy filling other orders -- allegedly running a cocaine trafficking ring that spanned three continents...

I think that I shall never see A tree so ugly as the woods Butchered in Girardeau's neighborhoods. The tree whackers are out in full force these days. Maybe you've seen them. How could you miss them? Moreover, how could you not notice what the whackers leave in their wake?...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Thursday.

Southeast Missouri State seniors Jason Blum and Dalton Hewitt have been selected District Six Capital One Academic All-District Baseball first-team. The award recognizes the top student-athletes in a nine-state region. Blum and Hewitt are among six players from the Ohio Valley Conference to receive the recognition...

O Heavenly Father, we take comfort in that joy comes in the morning. Amen.

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team demonstrated the ability to overcome a rain delay, a light outage, an umpire delay and Indiana State ace Jeff Degano. However, the Redhawks were not able to overcome an increasingly troublesome issue -- a balky bullpen...