Stories from Friday, September 12, 2003

NEW YORK -- Flags flew at half-staff and Yankee Stadium was silent for 15 seconds Thursday night during a low-key ceremony to mark the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. "Terrorists unsuccessfully attempted to break the spirit of our great nation," Bob Sheppard, the Yankees' longtime public address announcer, told the crowd...

Area golfers place second in event Four area golfers teamed to place second in flight A at a four-person scramble at Charleston (Mo.) Country Club on Thursday. Bonnie Kinder, Maggie Niswonger, Mona Williams and Carol Calvin shot a 70 in the event...

It looks better in real life than it does in pictures. And it has a mouthful of a name -- 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart. This new wagon from Japan is lively, versatile and affordable, with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, that's likely to be just under $20,000. Final pricing is due to be announced later this month...

ATLANTA -- The number of West Nile infections this year is nearly double the amount from this time last year, but fewer people have died as a result, federal officials said Thursday. So far this year, 2,923 people have been infected with the virus and 54 have died. Last year at this time, there were 1,641 human cases and 72 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said...

'Long Island Lolita' gets hitched in secret GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- Amy Fisher, whose shooting of her lover's wife when she was 17 earned her the tabloid nickname "Long Island Lolita," has tied the knot. Fisher, who became a newspaper columnist last year, was married this week, according to her paper, the Long Island Press...

and Erica Werner ~ The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Arnold Schwarzenegger may have to turn in another one of his blockbuster performances when he goes before delegates to the state Republican Party convention this weekend...

WASHINGTON -- Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark has told friends he is likely to become the 10th Democratic presidential candidate, a move that could shake up the crowded field just four months before the first ballots are cast. Clark, 58, has not made a decision, but the Arkansas resident is aggressively recruiting campaign staff and plans to announce his intentions next week, friends and party officials said on condition of anonymity. ...

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Drawn and trembling, Pope John Paul II struggled to greet Slovaks on Thursday as he began a grueling four-day visit that tested his age and ailments. The frail 83-year-old pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and crippling hip and knee ailments, appeared short of breath and read his arrival remarks in a slurred voice...

ROME -- At least 4,175 more elderly Italians died this summer compared with the same period last year, Italy said Thursday, in its first official report on the number of deaths related to the blistering heat wave that swept through Europe. The toll was the second-highest after France, where the government reported a startling 11,435 deaths. The Italian Health Ministry warned the figure could go as high as 5,000 once all data are in...

PARIS -- Families of the 170 victims of a 1989 French airliner bombing said Thursday they signed a preliminary compensation deal with Libya, preparing the way for a U.N. resolution lifting sanctions against the North African country. A final agreement will be signed in a month, according to terms of the deal...

The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades at a U.S. military convoy west of Baghdad Thursday, touching off an intense firefight that left at least one American soldier wounded, the military said. Tanks and other vehicles from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment came under attack in Fallujah, part of the dangerous "Sunni Triangle" region about 60 miles west of the capital, U.S. Army Capt. Jeff Fitzgibbons, coalition spokesman in Baghdad, told AP Radio...

JERUSALEM -- Israel issued an ominous threat Thursday to "remove" Yasser Arafat because he has failed to halt suicide bombings. Thousands of Palestinians rushed to Arafat's compound to protect their leader, fearing Israel wants to expel or even kill him...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Two years to the day after terrorist-hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, Missourians in their own ways stoically paused Thursday in memory of the thousands killed in the attacks...

SILVIS, Ill. -- Jonathan Byrd, in his second year on the PGA Tour, and 1999 champion J.L. Lewis shots 6-under 65s Thursday and shared the first-round lead at the John Deere Classic. Vijay Singh, third on the PGA Tour's money list this year, closed with an eagle and birdie to finish at 66, tied with Chris Riley who finished his round with a three-putt bogey...

Friday Drag racing at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark, Benton, 6 p.m. Late models, modifieds, pure stocks, mini stocks at Fredericktown Raceway, 7:30 p.m. Late models, modifieds, hobby stocks, pure stocks, cruisers at Malden Speedway, 7:30 p.m...

One of Central's worst nightmares came true Thursday night in the Tigers' home opener at Houck Stadium. Not only did the Tigers suffer an upset loss to visiting New Madrid County Central 26-20 in overtime, but Central also may have lost quarterback Mitch Craft, who left the game late in the second quarter with an injury. Craft's status was not known immediately after the game...

ST. LOUIS -- Together, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt have been to six Pro Bowls. Behind those two heading into Sunday's game against San Francisco, the Rams have almost no experience at its injury-thinned position of wide receiver. The third and fourth receivers will be Dane Looker and Mike Furrey, a pair of former NFL Europe stars. ...

I'm suspended upside down, 72 feet above the ground with my hair standing on end, my mouth frozen in a scream and some child's candy pelting me in the back of the head. No, it's not a nightmare. Welcome to the this year's SEMO District Fair midway...

After 30 years of performing and no new hits in decades, the Marshall Tucker Band could be excused for sounding a bit tired of it all. No excuses are necessary, as the band proved Thursday night in a rollicking, joyful set at the SEMO District Fair...

Local businessman John Tlapek gave $20,000 to two Cape Girardeau children's charities Thursday and challenged residents by offering to match up to $10,000 in donations given over the next four weeks. Tlapek spent the summer traveling the country with his dog, Charley, donating nearly $500,000 to about 20 children's charities and challenging their local residents to donate, too...

LONDON -- World leaders and relatives of victims joined others around the globe in paying tribute Thursday to the thousands of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with services that included a tree-planting ceremony in Australia and the opening of a memorial garden in London...

NEW YORK -- Two by two they stepped forward at ground zero Thursday, the sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, grandsons and granddaughters of the Sept. 11, 2001, victims, mournfully reciting the 2,792 names of the World Trade Center dead. "My mother and my hero," 13-year-old Brian Terzian said after reading the name of his mother, Stephanie McKenna. "We love you."...

They appeared gradually, like the stars at dusk. Some drifted across the sidewalks and lawns, others sparked to life in clusters. Within a span of minutes, more than 100 points of candlelight were floating around the fountain at Kent Library on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University...

In a move that violates current city law, the Cape Girardeau City Council hired a municipal judge who doesn't live here. A divided council -- behind closed doors on Aug. 18 -- chose Cape Girardeau County part-time prosecutor Teresa Bright-Pearson, who lives in East Prairie, Mo., as the city's next municipal judge. To make it legal, the council has to change a city ordinance on residency requirements for a municipal judge...

The smoke still induces tears. The fires still burn the heart. Two years to the hour after hijacked jets penetrated buildings and took thousands of lives in New York and Washington, D.C., Rebecca Gress of Cape Girardeau stood on the Sprigg Street sidewalk across from the city's fire station and cried...

Back-to-back concerts by popular country and hard rock bands are scheduled for October at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The country duo Montgomery Gentry with guests Emerson Drive will play Oct. 24. The next night the stage will be taken over by the Canadian hard rock band Nickelback, radio's most played rock band in 2002. The bands Trapt and Three Days Grace are also on the Oct. 25 bill...

By Chris Warren Your newspaper has kicked public schools while they're down. Your lengthy Sept. 6 editorial ends with a scolding of educators to quit "raging" against the federal unfunded No Child Left Behind law and to turn their "attention to low-achieving students and take them to the next level."...

This week's correspondence included a suggestion for the next time I can't come up with a topic to write about: Don't write a column. Another kinder, gentler suggestion came from a quilter who said there must have been quilters in Killough Valley when I was growing up, and a column about quilting would be a treat. Indeed, there were plenty of quilters in those Ozark hills over yonder. Thanks for the idea...

ST. LOUIS -- There was only one consolation for the Cardinals after Sterling Hitchcock got roughed up Thursday -- they didn't lose any more ground in the NL Central. Hitchcock struggled for the first time since joining the team, surrendering four solo home runs in 3 1/3 innings in a 9-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies...

LOUDON, N.H. -- New Hampshire International Speedway will always hold a special place in Ryan Newman's heart. His first Winston Cup victory came here last September, when the top rookie of 2002 dominated the race on the 1.058-mile oval. Not even rain that cut the event 93 laps short could dampen Newman's excitement after he started from the pole and led 147 of the 207 laps run...

Central's Tara Ford delivered a two-out hit in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless deadlock and hand visiting Notre Dame its first loss of the season on Thursday. "Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the state," Central coach Amy Blattel said after the 1-0 victory. "I don't care what level you're playing on. They hit the ball very well and forced us to play defense -- and we did."...

WASHINGTON -- Manufactured homes are a popular choice for low-income families, but new regulations from mortgage giant Fannie Mae could price some of those would-be homeowners out of the market. Concerned about rising loan delinquencies and foreclosures, Fannie Mae has begun requiring a 10 percent down payment for 30-year mortgages on such homes, plus a fee of one-half of 1 percent of the loan amount...

WASHINGTON -- The lives of many cancer patients are saved by the transfusion of platelets, but there is a chronic shortage of these fragile blood-clotting components because of spoilage. A new technique may double the shelf life of platelets and create a more reliable supply, researchers say...

WASHINGTON -- Officials in the Bush administration have evidence that North Korea has been using Russian technology to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching targets in the continental United States, an administration official said Thursday...

Hal F. Robertson, 80, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 31, 1922, in Piggott, Ark., son of John Augustus and Lillian Robertson. He and Carmen Tallent were married in 1950. He is survived by his wife, Carmen; a daughter, Tory Robertson Susac of Richmond, Va.; two brothers, John B. Robertson of Kennett, Mo., N. Logan Robertson of Dallas, Texas; and several nieces and nephews...

Frederick Miller "Bill" Wilferth, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Jan. 12, 1913, in Millersville, son of John Fred and Ethel Kathryn Miller Wilferth. He and I.V.D. Seabaugh were married May 28, 1938. She passed away Jan. 15, 1995. He and LouVera Green Daugherty were married Jan. 1, 1996...

Carrie Theresa Parker, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003, at the home of her daughter in Cahokia, Ill. Mrs. Parker was born Oct. 26, 1915, at Illmo, Mo., daughter of John Henry and Anna Louise Etter Lindemann. She and Edwin Blair Parker were married in Scott County, Mo. He died May 4, 1976...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Leatha Elizabeth Rister, 83, of Southaven, Miss., formerly of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003, at Baptist DeSoto Hospital in Southaven. She was born Sept. 4, 1920, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Grover and Esther Snider Hitt. She and Ebert Rister were married Aug. 28, 1940, at Benton, Mo. He died July 22, 1995...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Harvey B. Drake, 75, of Perryville died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 9, 1928, in Boykins, Va., son of A.B. and Minnie Outland Drake. He and Juanita T. Prost were married Sept. 13, 1969, in Hampton, Va...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Nancy Lee Wilson, 53, of Advance died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, at her home. She was born July 15, 1950, in Pontiac, Mich., daughter of Ivan and Norma Bane Kardell. She and Norman Wilson were married Feb. 26, 1970, in Pontiac. Wilson was a packer at Horizon Music in Advance, and a member of the Assembly of God Church. She was a graduate of Pontiac Northern High School...

SpringkamperDaughter to William Scott and Sarah Dawn Springkamper of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:38 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2003. Name, Ava Marie. Weight, 8 pounds. Second daughter. Mrs. Springkamper is the former Sarah Little, daughter of Melvin and Susan Little of Millstadt, Ill. Springkamper is the son of Betty Springkamper of Affton, Mo., and Bob Springkamper of Barnhart, Mo. He is manager at Walgreen Drug Store...

One and a half stars (out of four) "The Order" is a mismatch of movie plots. We have a hint of "The Exorcist," "Eyes Wide Shut," "The Thornbirds" (sex with a priest), and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (remember the movie's finale)? "The Order" deals with the idea that there exists a Sin Eater, an entity that can take on the burden of a person's last confession, and thereby release the dying person's spirit as it takes flight from the body and the mortal world. ...

10 years ago: Sept. 12, 1993 After receiving notification that it would no longer be agent for Missouri Department of revenue license fee office in Jackson, Chamber of Commerce board has held several meetings to discuss how to make up loss of revenue; members of Jackson chamber are concerned that loss of between $15,000 and $20,000 in annual revenue fee office provided could force it to close its office and eliminate a full-time staff position...

Amy Kephart and Colleen Carey McCall both teach ceramics at Southeast Missouri State University. Because of the hands-on, tactile nature of their art, each sometimes gets to watch and learn from the other. In curating "Crossing Paths," the exhibition of pottery and sculpture now at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, Kephart aimed to show how ceramics professors and their students influence each other. ...

Before considering the music that draws comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits and Townes Van Zandt, the name must be dealt with. He was supposed to have been named Joe. But when it was time to sign the birth certificate, his father, a really big fan of a certain ukelele-strumming TV host during the 1950s, decided to name him Arthur. Arthur Godfrey...

Auditions for 'Nutcracker' today at Southeast Auditions for "The Nutcracker" ballet to be presented in December by the Minnesota Ballet will be held today at the Student Recreation Center Dance Room at Southeast Missouri State University. Auditions for dancers ages 8 to 11 will be held at 5 p.m. Auditions for dancers ages 12 to 19 will be held at 6 p.m...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican Sen. Jon Dolan was granted a last-minute request for military leave from Cuba, then cast the deciding vote Thursday in favor of overriding a veto of concealed weapons legislation. Dolan, a public affairs officer with the Army National Guard, was granted leave from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, late Wednesday and returned to Missouri in time to vote against Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's veto...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With Senate action on vetoed abortion and concealed weapons bills Thursday, Democratic Gov. Bob Holden became the first Missouri chief executive in history to be overruled by the legislature on more than one issue during the course of his administration...

Shirlene Young, 63, of Sedalia, Ky., died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born June 23, 1940, in Graves County, Ky., daughter of Roy and Bernestine Fisher Loyd. She married J.E. Young. Mrs. Young was a member of Rhodes Chapel Baptist Church in Lynnville, Ky...

To the editor: People are wonderful. Each day brings me closer to that truth. I never cease to be impressed at the amount of stamina, courage, strength and determination shown by millions who were victims of the 2003 blackout, possibly the most extensive power outage in history for much of the nation. Definite answers for the cause plus a solution are yet to be determined. Sharp minds, I am sure, will correct whatever problem exists...

WASHINGTON -- America's trade deficit expanded in July to $40.3 billion as imported goods from China and the quantity of overseas crude oil sold to the United States each hit record highs. The latest snapshot of the country's trade activity showed that the trade gap grew by 0.7 percent in July from June's $40 billion imbalance, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. July's trade deficit was slightly smaller than the $40.5 billion shortfall economists were predicting...

Doug Leslie, described by city employees as a "down to earth person" and "customer-service oriented," was hired Friday as Cape Girardeau's new city manager. It's a job he's held on an interim basis since May 30 when the city council fired former manager Michael Miller. Mayor Jay Knudtson announced the appointment at city hall today, surrounded by council members and city department heads...

A former Jackson firefighter must finish 100 hours of community service and write letters of apology for e-mailing photos of a topless female co-worker. Joel A. Bockelman, 30, of Jackson was originally charged in May with eight misdemeanors of tampering with computer data. Seven counts were dismissed when he pleaded guilty Aug. 14 to one count. Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp presided over Thursday's hearing and set the conditions of probation...

Cape Girardeau Friday, Sept. 12 Firefighters responded Wednesday to the following items: At 6:20 p.m., medical assist at 647 S. Spring St. At 7:08 p.m., illegal burn at 1863 Big Bend Road. Firefighters responded Thursday to the following items: At 12:56 a.m., medical assist at 619 S. Park...

Cape Girardeau Friday, Sept. 12 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Robert D. Garrity, 26, of 510 Washington, Cape Girardeau, was arrested Wednesday on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear...

SCOTT CITY -- Henry C. "Bud" Leiner, 85, of Scott City, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, at Southeast Missouri State Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

For years, Missouri's public school administrators and the boards they report to have looked for alternatives to current funding, which relies heavily on local property taxes. While the topic has been widely discussed, there have been few concrete proposals offered. Legislators have been less than enthusiastic about tackling an overhaul of education funding...

Notre Dame, Jackson and Leopold all made trips to last year's state playoffs, and the Wildcats went on to the Class 1 championship. Before those teams could play for state supremacy, they all played in the B.A. Sports Volleyball Tournament held at the Show Me Center, the Student Recreation Center and Notre Dame Regional High School...

Rockwood Summit (0-1) at Jackson (1-0) Last week: Jackson 12, Sikeston 7, Parkway South 27, Rockwood 13 Last season: Rockwood 18, Jackson 0 Notes: Jackson is coming off an emotional win at favored Sikeston. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's soccer team will finally see its first home action of the regular season today when Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis comes to Houck Stadium for a 7 p.m. game. The Otahkians will also play at home Sunday, facing Southwest Missouri State in a 2 p.m. contest...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- University of Missouri Athletics Director Mike Alden said Thursday he was embarrassed and "ticked off" over controversy surrounding the university's basketball program, but disputed reports of a rift between him and coach Quin Snyder...

Missouri Department of Conservation When I work with private landowners, hunters and bird enthusiast, I'm often asked about the declining populations of quail. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. It would be easy to say the predators are killing them all, or the change to large-scale and cleaner farming practices eliminated the habitat they require. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Teal hunters are rejoicing at news of a dramatic turnaround in their favorite ducks' fortunes. Other duck hunters will find ample cause for joy in this year's waterfowl status reports, too. Poor nesting conditions during the 2002 breeding season prompted wildlife officials to shorten last year's early teal season by a week compared to 2001. ...

Highway is a disgrace FOR THE first time this year, MoDOT has finally mowed along Highway 177 north of town. I do not know which looks worse: when the weeds are as tall as your car, or after they mow and all of the trash is scattered. We were in Illinois a couple of weekends ago on Highway 3. It looked much better. Highway 177 is a disgrace...

Dear Tom and Ray: Why is it, do you think, that there aren't more women mechanics? I'm asking for purely selfish reasons. I'm an art-history major and have worked in museums for the past decade, and I'm looking to change careers. I'm completely visually and hands-on oriented, and I've always been fascinated by car engines and how they work. ...