Stories from Saturday, September 6, 2003

KENNETT, MO. -- The trend has been growing steadily over the past decade until today it has become so prevalent that few seem to care. I'm referring to the growing citizen tendency to judge public servants by their political popularity rather than the views they are propounding for governance...

WASHINGTON -- Congress took a step Friday toward turning the nation's capital city into the home of the first federally supported school voucher plan, an idea with implications across the country. The House narrowly endorsed private-school vouchers for poor District of Columbia students Friday, a plan likely to win final approval when the city's budget comes to a vote next week. The Senate, too, will soon consider a plan to let district students attend private school at public expense...

WASHINGTON -- The FBI issued a worldwide alert Friday for four men linked to al-Qaida, including a suspected terror cell leader and an avowed suicide attacker, after new intelligence indicated they might be plotting attacks against the United States...

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department Saturday, Sept. 6 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Lonny D. Thompson, 42, of Marble Hill, Mo., was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and driving while revoked...

Cape Girardeau Saturday, Sept. 6 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Danny G. Newcomb, 46, of 1538 Independence, Cape Girardeau, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance...

Cape Girardeau Saturday, Sept. 6 Firefighters responded Thursday to the following items: At 4:40 p.m., medical assist at 2021 Independence. At 9:12 p.m., medical assist at 605 S. Middle. At 10:13 p.m., medical assist at 316 S. Lorimier. At 10:15 p.m., medical assist at 1112 Linden...

In times of economic uncertainty, philanthropic organizations that depend on the generosity of donors tend to share the financial pinch. So it is particularly heartwarming to see that people in this part of the country strongly support charitable causes...

Officials at Southeast Missouri's school districts were quick to take exception when the Missouri Assessment Program test scores came out this week and showed some unwanted trends. Ten local schools joined 1,023 others across the state in failing to make the required adequate yearly progress in math and communication arts...

TORONTO Mel Gibson take note: There's another new film about the life of Jesus that also depicts Jews' involvement in the events leading to the Crucifixion. But this one has several Jewish producers and has attracted much less controversy. While Gibson's "The Passion" won't be released for months, Jewish and Christian commentators already are debating whether its gory treatment of Jesus' death will rouse anti-Semitism. ...

"The Passion," a movie about Jesus' crucifixion that's funded, produced, directed and co-written by actor Mel Gibson, is getting plenty of publicity months ahead of release. The reason: Christians and Jews who have attended advance screenings or have read a script of the film, which is expected to reach theaters some time during Lent next year, are debating the perennial question of who was responsible for Jesus' death...

Cape Girardeau rivals Notre Dame and Central will meet today in the championship game of Notre Dame Soccerfest. Semifinal action Friday in the eight-team tournament saw Notre edge Jackson 1-0 and Central slip past Carbondale (Ill.) 3-2 in double overtime...

First-year Southeast Missouri State University cross country coach Eric Heins is confident that the Otahkians can finally get to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference and that the Indians can climb upward in the league standings. "I think it will be a very good season for both the men's and women's teams," said Heins, whose squads have their first meet today at the Missouri Invitational in Columbia. ...

Briefly Baseball Cubs reliever Antonio Alfonseca was suspended for seven games, bullpen coach Juan Lopez was suspended for one game and outfielder Moises Alou was fined Friday for their run-in with umpire Justin Klemm earlier this week. The suspensions were set to start Friday night when the Cubs played at Milwaukee. Alfonseca was penalized for making contact with Klemm while Alou and Lopez were disciplined for arguing...

n Coach: Eric Heins, first year. 2002 results: Women, second place OVC; men, fifth place OVC. 2002 honors: Women: Lindsay Zeiler, OVC champion, first-team all-OVC; Kaci Pilcher, second-team all-OVC; Kris Woolf, second-team all-OVC; Brooke Woodruff, second-team all-OVC; Anna Verseman, second-team all-OVC...

To the editor: While I have never owned a pit bull nor have had any inclination to, I have had several personal experiences with a neighbor who owned a pit bull, and I have talked with people who were walking their pit bulls. What dogs are like isn't that different from people. For some people, this is not something they want to hear: You mean I am not better than a dog?...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. companies slashed payrolls for a seventh straight month in August, raising new worries that a weak jobs market could shackle the budding economic recovery despite a slight improvement in the overall unemployment rate. Payrolls fell by 93,000 last month after a loss of 49,000 jobs in July, the Labor Department reported from its survey of U.S. businesses. Analysts had expected an improving economy to create 12,000 jobs...

HAMILTON, Ontario -- Paul Azinger lost two strokes and a lofty spot on the Canadian Open leaderboard in the second television-related ruling of his career. Azinger was penalized Friday after a TV viewer alerted PGA Tour officials that the veteran player's caddie, Ted Scott, removed the flagstick from the hole while playing partner Fred Funk's ball was still in motion on the 13th green -- barely moving about 2 feet past the cup after a chip...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Mike Skinner made a surprising comeback after crashing in practice Friday and got his sixth career Winston Cup pole in a backup car at Richmond International Raceway. The recovery was dramatic for Skinner, who called his run "a little bit of fuel for the soul." But it also was short-lived. After winning the pole, his Pontiac went through some oil on the track in another practice session and slammed into the wall...

Anyone questioning how well Southeast Missouri is prepared to handle natural and man-made disasters would only have had to walk through the parking lot of the Osage Community Centre Friday afternoon to be reassured. Dozens of Southeast Missouri's emergency agencies put their vehicles and equipment on display next to those of state and federal agencies at an equipment fair to show the public how they would react in the event of a disaster...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Educators and school lobbying groups on Friday urged lawmakers to pump substantially more money into education to reverse the devastating effects they say state budget cuts have had on most Missouri school districts. Dr. Larry Ewing, superintendent of the Fort Osage School District in Jackson County, said the refusal of the Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature to consider tax increases has shifted more of the burden of funding education to local taxpayers, who are being asked to make up lost state revenue by approving higher property levies.. ...

By Janie McCauley ~ The Associated Press NEW YORK -- The rain turned out to be just what Andre Agassi needed. Playing on two days' rest -- a rare notion in the second week of this much-delayed U.S. Open -- the world's top-ranked man breezed into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 victory against fifth-seeded Guillermo Coria on Friday...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau Central rode a dominating defensive performance and two touchdowns by Brandon Twiggs to a 24-6 season-opening football victory Friday night over host St. Charles West. Twiggs scored on a 2-yard run and a 44-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Craft, Kyle Schuessler returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown and Colin Schermann added a 26-yard field goal...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A nationally known computer hacker is being sought on a federal arrest warrant stemming from a sealed complaint in New York, a federal defender in California said Friday. Adrian Lamo, 22, has publicly acknowledged involvement in some dramatic computer break-ins at large corporations during the past several years, including The New York Times, Yahoo!, Worldcom and ExciteAtHome...

LAS VEGAS -- A massive fire engulfed an under-construction luxury apartment development, destroying 350 units and causing millions of dollars in damage, authorities said. The cause of the blaze was still under investigation Friday. There were no injuries, but the fire Thursday night in southeast Las Vegas spread quickly throughout the sprawling construction site, sending flames hundreds of feet into the air...

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Gov. Gray Davis fended off criticism Friday from GOP gubernatorial hopeful Arnold Schwarzenegger that the Democrat flip-flopped on his support for a bill granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. As Davis prepared to sign the legislation Friday, Schwarzenegger vowed to repeal the law, saying it raises security concerns...

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- With the United States pressing Turkey to dispatch thousands of peacekeepers to Iraq, Turkey's populist government finds itself in a quandary -- caught between its closest ally and a public opposed to sending troops. The dilemma illustrates the difficulties that many countries are facing in deciding whether to provide peacekeeping forces despite having reservations about the mission and the Iraq war...

NABLUS, West Bank -- Israeli commandos killed a Hamas bombmaker in a firefight Friday and pulverized the seven-story apartment building in which he had been hiding, leaving dozens of Palestinians homeless and prompting charges that soldiers meted out collective punishment...

BERLIN -- Germany has complained to Italy about a winery that labels its bottles with portraits of Adolf Hitler, the Justice Ministry said Friday. Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries recently wrote to her Italian counterpart to say the labels are "contemptible and tasteless" and asked him to see what could be done to stop their production, spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said...

HAMILTON, Bermuda -- The most powerful hurricane to hit Bermuda in 50 years slammed into the island chain, unleashing winds that snapped off palm trees, knocked out power and tested the wealthy British territory's vaunted ability to withstand a fierce storm...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State tax revenue grew last month, but not enough to ease the pressures on a struggling state budget, the state budget director said Friday. The monthly state Revenue Department report shows Missouri's general revenue grew 4.4 percent in August when compared to the same month one year ago. Since the state fiscal year started in July, net revenue collections are up 6.1 percent...

VERSAILLES, Mo. -- Morgan County prosecutor Marvin Opie says his office has spent the last nine months scouring records to find which cases his predecessor -- who resigned after being charged with soliciting prostitution -- dropped and why. Opie said he may never know just how many people who should have faced prosecution did not...

ST. LOUIS -- A high-octane offense got the Rams to two Super Bowls in a three-year span. Now, perhaps, it's time for the defense to step up. A line that features four first-round draft picks started to assert itself in the preseason. Linebacking has been solid after a shaky 2002, and the secondary has retooled with cornerback Aeneas Williams moving to free safety...

Southeast soccer loses at 11th-ranked Auburn AUBURN, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss at powerhouse Auburn Friday night. Auburn, 2-0 and ranked 11th nationally, scored a pair of first-half goals and dropped the Otahkians to 1-1-1...

To the editor: I read with interest your article on the performance of area schools on the Missouri Assessment Program tests. Your headline suggested that area schools are not performing well on the MAP tests, but the story only included data from three districts...

To the editor: Mike Wells and the Southeast Missourian are to be commended for the excellent articles on our local Missouri Division of Youth Service programs. I was a young man right out of college who went to work at the Boonville Training School for Boys before entering seminary. Thirty years ago I served as corrections counselor for nearly 30 youths...

Pre-anniversary service set by Greater Dimension Greater Dimension Ministries and church in Cape Girardeau will celebrate its anniversary with a service prior to the event. Guest speaker Ronnie Web, pastor of Mount Calvary Powerhouse Church of God in Poplar Bluff, will speak during the 6 p.m. service today...

LUDZIDZINI, Swaziland -- Wearing beads, wrap skirts and woolen tassels, thousands of girls danced for Swaziland's king on Friday, hoping to be chosen as his 12th queen. But hail and lightning broke up the ceremony. Some said the weather was a good sign for this drought-stricken land, but others disagreed...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Matt Forir expected to find another 50-foot, trash-filled pit when he went to investigate a cave unearthed by construction workers in Greene County. Forir, a paleontologist, could not have been more wrong. The dynamite that blasted into limestone for a new road has unveiled proof that 1,400-pound short-faced bears roamed southwest Missouri during the ice age, and that they struggled with arthritis and gout...

SAN DIEGO -- A 14-year-old boy jogging with his high school cross-country team was shot and killed in an ambush by his father, who killed himself hours later in a standoff with police. William Hoffine, 58, had been in deep debt and was enmeshed in a bitter custody battle with the boy's mother, who had obtained a court order to keep him away...

NEW YORK -- Dave Matthews as a politician? The idea was tossed around Thursday night during the filming of an MTV2 special to promote Matthews' new solo album, "Some Devil," due out Sept. 23. Matthews sang tunes from the upcoming album and, at one point, answered questions from the audience of about 200 at MTV's midtown studios...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- An accident on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster Friday left a 22-year-old man dead and 10 other riders injured, officials said. The cause of the man's death and that of the accident, which state and local authorities were investigating, were unclear Friday night...

Southeast Missouri State University has not lost to Southern Illinois during Tim Billings' first three years as the Indians' coach. But Billings said that will mean little tonight when the Salukis (1-0) and Indians (0-1) hook up in a regionally televised game at Houck Stadium...

There wasn't much fanfare to the new Courthouse Park statue's unveiling. Dexter, Mo., sculptor Alan Gibson yanked off a black piece of cloth Friday in front of a small audience of Cape Girardeau County officials and a few curious bystanders. There it was: the Union soldier, an exact replica of the one erected in 1911...

P Cincinnati hands St. Louis 4-2 loss in 12 innings. By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Wily Mo Pena tripled home the tiebreaking run in the 12th inning to cap his first three-hit game as the Cincinnati Reds rallied past the reeling St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Friday night...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush will address the nation Sunday night about Iraq amid growing U.S. casualties and criticism about his handling of the war against terrorism. The last time Bush made such a speech was on May 1 when he landed on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended."...

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein probably is hiding among the dusty towns or date palm groves of his home region around the town of Tikrit, moving frequently to avoid the Americans and Iraqis hunting for him, the commander of U.S. forces here said Friday...

TOKYO -- Former President Jimmy Carter said Friday a "combined commitment" by the United States and other nations to guarantee North Korea's security could help defuse the crisis over the communist nation's nuclear weapons program. Carter blamed Washington and the communist state for the unraveling of a landmark U.S.-North Korean agreement that he helped mediate in 1994 but said he believed the current crisis could be resolved diplomatically with concessions on both sides...

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian SIKESTON, Mo. -- A couple of key interceptions and first downs combined with timely running to lead Jackson to a 12-7 win Friday in its opener against SEMO Conference rival Sikeston...

KENNETT, Mo. -- The attorney representing former Dexter police chief Ken Rinehart and Sgt. Sammy Stone filed a motion Thursday asking the court to dismiss the felony charges against them. Cape Girardeau attorney John Oliver filed the motion citing "violation of statutory and constitutional right to a speedy trial," according to a docket entry on the Missouri State Courts Automated Case Management System...

Today Family Day event from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Bethany Baptist Church. Activities include carnival games and prizes for children, a cookout luncheon, music provided by local talent and an ice-cream churning contest that starts at 4 p.m. Music groups will perform at 1, 3, 5 and 6:30 p.m., with the main concert at 7 p.m...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- After beating Illinois in the season opener, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel isn't looking too far ahead. Sure, the Tigers' schedule over the next four weeks could lend itself to a 5-0 start in anticipation of a home game against Nebraska Oct. 11. Then again, the Tigers need only look back one season to see the perils of overconfidence...

Starving in America I GET so tired of reading and hearing about people being hungry in the United States. Most of these people who would like to have something else to eat aren't starving. You can ask probably 98 percent of the children at any time if they're hungry, and they'll tell you yes if they think they're going to get a goodie. People are actually being underfed and malnourished. That's a different story. But most people can avoid that if they're willing to work...

Laura D. Birk, 97, of St. Louis died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003. She was born Oct. 9, 1905, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of W.F. and Anna Brunke Bender. She married Reman Birk, who preceded her in death. Birk had been a member of Parent Teachers Association and Ladies Aid Society. She had lived in St. Louis since 1952...

Virgie B. Parrish, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Nov. 7, 1913, in McClure, Ill., daughter of George and Ella M. Staubb Goodman. She and Ira I. Parrish were married Feb. 11, 1933, in McClure. He died Dec. 7, 1992...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Tyler Wayne Mattison, 18, of Sikeston died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born Sept. 26, 1984, son of Steve Clark and Phyllis Ann Clayton Mattison. Mattison attended Sikeston High School and played junior varsity football. He had participated in Little League soccer and football, and Junior Babe Ruth League baseball...

Elmer Joseph Fisher, 82, of Gordonville died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 2, 1920, in Glennon, Mo., the son of George and Blanche Horrell Fisher. He married Irene Francis DeBrock on Nov. 27, 1946, at St. Anthony's Church in Glennon...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- George L. Shiverdeck Jr., 32, of Marble Hill died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at Elder Care Nursing Home in Marble Hill. He was born Feb. 19, 1971, in East St. Louis, Ill., son of George L. and Donna Shiverdeck. He worked as a dispatcher for a cab company in Springfield, Mo...

Leola Marie Eakins, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at the Lutheran Home. She was born April 9, 1916, at Burfordville, daughter of John Thomas and Sara Jane Eddleman Winkler. She and Cletus Eakins were married March 15, 1936, in Murphysboro, Ill. He died Jan. 12, 1999...

Shirley C. Boucher, 73, of St. Louis died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in St. Louis. She was born Dec. 1, 1929, in St. Louis, daughter of Otis G. and Ruth Stemler. She married Burl A. Boucher, who preceded her in death. Boucher lived in Cape Girardeau from 1977 until moving to St. Louis in 1997...

ANNA, Ill. -- Winifred E. Hartline Brown, 88, of Anna died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at Union County Hospital. She was born Jan. 31, 1915, in DuQuoin, Ill., daughter of Alfred and Sarah Foster Walker. She and Roy Hartline were married Dec. 1, 1933, in Jackson. He died Nov. 1, 1974...

10 years ago: Sept. 6, 1993 Labor Day. After closure for last year and a half because of terminal renovation, restaurant at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport is set to reopen; Runway Restaurant and Lounge will open Wednesday. Compton Heights Concert Band of St. ...

Daily American Republic BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- After guarding Stoddard County's inmates for about six months, an Essex, Mo., man now finds himself sitting behind those same bars. Randal Jason Vandiver, 20, was charged last week with sexual contact with an inmate and distribution of a controlled substance by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn. His bond was set at $50,000 cash...

Sikeston teen dies in crash early Friday BLODGETT, Mo. -- An early Friday accident claimed the life of a Sikeston, Mo., teen. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Tyler Wayne Mattison, 18, was killed instantly when a vehicle he was riding in overturned on Route H near Blodgett at 1:20 a.m. Friday...

Week 1 at New York GiantsThe Giants have been stewing about last year's special teams meltdown long enough, and the Rams know they need a fast start to the season. Rams (1-0) 20, Giants 17 Week 2 San Francisco 49ersThe 49ers have a four game losing streak in the Ed, and it continues in Week 2...

VanGilder Daughter to Kevin and Theresa VanGilder of Loveland, Ohio, formerly of Cape Girardeau, Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, 7:43 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003. Name, Bailey Clarrice. Weight, 7 pounds 1 ounce. Sixth child, fifth daughter. Mrs. VanGilder is the former Theresa Willis, daughter of Jane Warner of Chehalis, Wash., and the late Maurice "Bub" Willis of Olive Branch, Ill. VanGilder is the son of Clifford and Violet VanGilder of Middletown, Ohio...

The last known addresses provided for the Crimestoppers announcement on William Joseph Sample in Friday's edition were incorrect. The information was provided by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. The account set up for "Little" David Purkey is at The Bank of Missouri, 3427 William St., Cape Girardeau. Due to a source error, the bank name was incorrect in Friday's edition...

When Cape Girardeau School District officials decided to delay the purchase of textbooks this year to save money, they thought it would bring some relief to a starving budget. Now, even the money they thought they were saving has been cut. Officials in both Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts recently received word that they'll lose around $80,000 each this year in free textbook funding from the state...