Stories from Thursday, November 25, 2004

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Kenny Elfrink is a man's man. n He fixes cars for a living. He farms for fun. He pitches in the "Fat Boy League," a three-team, co-ed softball outfit he helped organize. He considers deer season a sacred holiday. He's a perpetual teaser, a good ol' country boy from the friendly, one-street Catholic town of Leopold, Mo...

** Thanksgiving Come late or leave early. Have a signal that says to your spouse: "Come save me!" Don't corner yourself in a room. Always plan a way to excuse yourself. For wives -- hang out with the guys. They are less likely to be talking about babies...

It may be early December before the decorative lights are turned on again on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, a transformer was blown in October, turning out the lights. MoDOT says it does not yet know why the transformer blew, but the contractor said the new transformer is in and work is expected to be finished on it this week. Utility work still has to be done sometime next week, when the lights are expected to return...

Chances are you know someone who is trying to get pregnant but can't. Maybe that person is you. Infertility affects roughly one in eight couples in the United States, meaning one in eight women younger than 35 years old have tried conceiving children but have been unsuccessful. For women older than 35, infertility is defined by three months of failure. For women under 35, a year of failure is defined as being infertile...

After all the Thanksgiving meals have been eaten and the leftovers put away, area residents can get into the Christmas spirit by visiting the Holiday of Lights at Cape Girardeau County Park, which opens today at dusk and will be lit from dusk until 11 p.m. every day until New Year's Eve...

The U.S. Postal Service may reopen the Frederick Street post office once structural issues are resolved in the leased building, Cape Girardeau postmaster Mike Keefe said Wednesday. Even then, the agency still might decide to operate a second retail office in a more centrally located part of the city, Keefe said...

Hunting season is about to begin, and it has nothing to do with turkey or deer. In the wee hours of Friday morning, people will be fighting off the Thanksgiving calories and loading their credit and debit cards for bear as they set out in search of holiday shopping bargains. Black Friday is upon us...

Nov. 25, 2004 Dear Adams family, DC and I know someone who hides the valuables when a certain relative comes to visit. Things seem to disappear when she leaves. We don't need to take those kinds of precautions with our relatives. We just have to figure out how to make our house appear inhabitable. Three dogs with bad habits and two humans who can't brag about their own make it a challenge...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Every December, Zack Rudman and his wife send out cards with winterscapes and generic holiday greetings. Finally, though, the Kansas City lawyer found a variety that seemed to better suit a Jewish man and an Episcopal woman with two young children as familiar with the menorah as mistletoe. It screams "Merry Chrismukkah!"...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Governor-elect Matt Blunt says his brother Andrew, a registered lobbyist, won't try to influence executive branch decisions. But he will continue lobbying the legislature. "My brother never lobbied the secretary of state's office and my brother has been very clear that he's not going to lobby the executive branch of state government," Blunt said Tuesday...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An audiotape attributed to Iraq's most feared terrorist lashed out Wednesday at Sunni Muslim clerics for not speaking out against U.S. attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. and Iraqi officials said they would press their offensive against insurgents following the fall of Fallujah. ...

New trial ordered in 2000 K.C. road rage death KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man convicted in a road-rage killing deserves a new trial because his defense attorney was ineffective, the Missouri Court of Appeals has ruled. James L. Peterson, 29, was sentenced to life plus 30 years after a Jackson County jury convicted him three years ago of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A member of Southwest Missouri State University's governing board said she will oppose the school's longstanding efforts to change its name after her attempt to add a policy protection for gays was blocked for a second time. Southwest Missouri State has been working for some 15 years to change its name to Missouri State University. ...

GENEVA -- The international Red Cross has visited Saddam Hussein again to check on his condition in detention, a spokesman said Wednesday. Muin Kassis, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Amman, Jordan, said the visit "took place recently in the detention place of the former president of Iraq."...

MEXICO CITY -- The images are chilling: A young man, his face bloody and swollen, struggles to tell a television reporter that he is an undercover federal agent, then a mob burns him and another officer alive on camera. The horrific footage from the killings Tuesday night put a spotlight on growing vigilante justice in Mexico, where police are viewed as inept at best and corrupt at worst and where many people say they must take security into their own hands as crime soars...

Rookies have made an impact in some non-traditional roles By Barry Wilner ~ The Associated Press Rookie quarterbacks don't have immediate success in the NFL. Neither do first-year middle linebackers. The positions simply are too complicated and too critical, and coaches won't trust them to the novice...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Tyler McKinney wondered 10 months ago if he would ever see out of his right eye again, let alone play basketball. The Creighton senior was in excruciating pain from an infection that had invaded his eye and would require two cornea transplants...

Guardsmen with local ties head to Iraq Army National Guard Sgts. Ryan D. Welker and Jason R. Davis have deployed overseas to a forward operation location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Welker and Davis are technical engineer sergeants ordinarily with the 35th Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood. ...

One dead, one injured after two-car accident A Marble Hill, Mo., man was killed and a Patton, Mo., woman injured in a two-car accident on Highway 34, three miles east of Marble Hill at 5:50 p.m. Tuesday. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when a 1993 Ford Escort driven by Michael Douglas, 33, ran off the right side of the road. ...

n Name: Lt. Chris Mouser Lives in: Jackson Family: Great wife and three great children. Job: Lieutenant of the patrol division of the Jackson Police Department and coordinator of special events such as the upcoming toy program held in conjunction with the Jackson Elks Christmas Basket program...

WASHINGTON -- Workers' complaints about being denied overtime pay, wages and job leave guaranteed by law rose this year to the highest level in four years, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Penalties for violations and awards of back wages fell...

WASHINGTON -- David Graham says he was surprised by the reception he got back at his Food and Drug Administration office after telling Congress the government had allowed unsafe drugs to remain on the market. "To be hugged and slapped on the back" was not the welcome he expected from colleagues, he said recently...

WASHINGTON -- More than a quarter of the babies born in the United States last year were delivered by Caesarean section, a record high for the surgical method that is a controversial subject among both obstetricians and mothers. Birth rates for teenagers continued their steady decline, but rates increased for women 35 to 44, the government said Tuesday...

IRVING, Texas -- This time last year, Drew Henson was starting to distance himself from being "the next Mickey Mantle." He'd given up trying to play third base in the New York Yankees organization and was ready to concentrate on what he enjoyed most, playing quarterback...

SAN DIEGO -- Philip Rivers' introduction to life in the NFL was the same as for most newly rich rookies. His veteran San Diego Chargers teammates took him along to dinner at a fancy steakhouse in La Jolla and, as is tradition, made the young multimillionaire quarterback pick up the check -- for a whopping $25,000...

KIEV, Ukraine -- Opposition leaders called Wednesday for a nationwide strike to shut down factories, schools and transportation after officials declared Ukraine's pro-Kremlin prime minister the winner of a presidential runoff election that many countries denounced as rigged...

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Increasingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin walks alone. He has alarmed the West with authoritarian policies at home. He announced last week that Russia was developing new nuclear missiles. And now he has embraced the official outcome of a Ukrainian election that Western observers say was rigged...

Southeast finished tied for sixth in the nine-team conference. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Whatever the reasons -- and there appear to be plenty -- this was a highly disappointing Southeast Missouri State University football season by any standards...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andre Owens scored a game-high 24 points, including a free throw with 9.7 seconds left, as Houston beat Missouri 57-55 for third place on Wednesday night in the Guardians Classic. The Cougars won despite not making a field goal in the last six minutes. Lanny Smith's 3-pointer with 6:01 to play gave Houston a 55-46 lead...

The change from Paige Sports Arena might be approved on Friday. By Kelly Wiese ~ The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Fans, students and alumni were furious when the University of Missouri announced its new $75 million basketball arena was being named for a 22-year-old Wal-Mart heiress who attended another college...

DECATUR, Ill. -- Charles Miller sits in his favorite recliner, across the living room from his beloved. His corner of the room is dim, the lamp turned off. Too much light bothers eyes that hardly see. Ruth Miller is tucked into the corner of a favorite chair. Close to her is a guitar, not played for years. On the wall nearby is the framed "splash" she received upon retirement from Mueller Co. The splash, Charles explains, is where some hot brass dropped and hardened on the foundry floor...

POIPU BEACH, Hawaii -- Phil Mickelson shot a 59 on Wednesday to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, matching the low score in competitive golf. Mickelson barely missed a 9-foot eagle putt to the left on the last hole that would have given him a 58 at the unofficial event for the year's major winners. He tapped in for birdie and smiled as the gallery cheered wildly...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Most of the turkeys gracing the nation's dinner tables today have been selectively bred for their white meat for so many generations that simply walking can be a problem for many of the big-breasted birds and sex is no longer possible...

America has had an uneasy time in the halls of public opinion overseas. Based on media reports, it would seem that America's work in the world goes unappreciated, and that the "ugly American" syndrome is ubiquitous. We take exception to the reporting of this perception. For us, the news is not so lopsided on the negative side...

Happy Thanksgiving, sports fans. Go ahead and grab a turkey leg, pop a cold one and plop yourself in front of the TV. Just remember what day it is and that you're celebrating more than just the chance to watch two NFL games on a Thursday. So, in the spirit of the day, let's give thanks for:...

ATLANTA -- The flu season in the United States is off to a slow start, with only Delaware and New York reporting significant outbreaks -- a relief to government health authorities, given the U.S. vaccine shortage. Even so, the "widespread" flu activity in Delaware -- the first state to be classified at the nation's highest flu level -- is a little misleading. ...

VALPARAISO, Ind. -- A student carrying two hidden knives slashed five classmates Wednesday morning as they watched a Spanish class video, authorities said. Eight Valparaiso High School students were taken to the hospital, including the accused attacker, a 15-year-old freshman, police chief Michael Brickner said. All but one of those injured were released by Wednesday afternoon, he said. Five suffered cuts and the others complained of pain from other injuries...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida voters this month approved a three-strikes law unlike any other state's -- a measure aimed not at killers and thieves but at doctors who foul up. The newly approved amendment to the Florida Constitution would automatically revoke the medical license of any doctor hit with three malpractice judgments. The law is backed by doctors' foremost antagonists -- lawyers -- and the ramifications could be huge...

Thanksgiving weekend travelers crowded airports, bus and train stations, and highways Wednesday, putting up with tight security and bad weather that included heavy snow in the nation's midsection and thunderstorms in the South. According to a survey conducted for AAA by the Travel Industry Association of America, 30.6 million people, or 3 percent more than in 2003, were expected to hit the road during the holiday weekend, even with gasoline prices nearly one-third higher than a year ago. ...

Any TV film with a cast including Susan Sarandon, Alan Arkin, Penelope Cruz and Robin Williams is worth a look. That certainly goes for "Noel," a multi-stranded holiday yarn that isn't afraid to tug at the heartstrings, but does it in often unexpected ways...

HAYWARD, Wis. -- The man suspected of shooting six hunters to death and a survivor agree that the tragedy began with a confrontation on private land. But they sharply differ on what happened next. Survivor Lauren Hesebeck told investigators Chai Vang, 36, of St. Paul, Minn., turned around after a verbal exchange and started shooting his rifle from 40 yards away...

NEW YORK -- The nation's retailers are hoping furry ponchos, fur-lined flip-flops, and sweater sets adorned with multiple broaches will excite shoppers this holiday season and lure them into stores and malls earlier than in previous years. Some of the merchandise is downright silly, but store owners hope all the frivolity will help them improve on last year's 4 percent increase in sales at stores opened at least a year, which was the biggest gain since 1999 when retailers posted a 5.4 percent increase.. ...

TRIPOLI, Libya -- French President Jacques Chirac, on the first visit to Libya by a French head of state in more than half a century, said Wednesday that turbulent times were over and a "true partnership" was ahead. Chirac, applauding "an exceptional moment" for the two nations, met for an hour with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and spelled out the business benefits France hopes to achieve in this oil-rich North African nation...

high schools have left today's playing field to the NFL, colleges. By Toby Carrig ~ Southeast Missourian The football equipment is packed away at Central, Jackson and Perryville high schools. Only St. Vincent High School still is practicing for a game...

** 25 years ago: Nov. 25, 1979 Second Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Claude Russell Jr., celebrates the church's 112th anniversary. The lid is up on Toybox; for the fifth consecutive year, The Missourian, in cooperation with the Cape Girardeau Jaycees' Operation Santa Claus, is seeking donations of new toys or other gift items for youngsters between infancy and age 12...

New Salem Baptist Academy First quarter A honor roll 11th grade -- MacKenzie Jones 9th grade -- Brett Jones 8th grade -- Stephen Willard 6th grade -- Martha Poole 4th grade -- Kelly Marchewa 3rd grade -- Rachel Poole, Caitlin Cook, Alexandria Lacy 2nd grade -- Rebecca Long...

Leopold High School A Honor Roll 12th grade --Tonya Arnzen, Mary Beth Bohnsack, Samantha Bueter, Rachel Crader, Tyler Elfrink, Amber Nenninger, Jena Stoverink, Michael Vandeven. 11th grade -- Alex Eftink, Josh Eftink, Chris Elfrink, Kelly Irvin, Kelly Macke, Jesse Rose, Stacey Seabaugh, Jessica Vandeven, Alfred VanGennip...

Immanuel Lutheran School Honor Roll 2nd grade--Vanessa Adelman, Dalton Baer, Kylie Baer, Abigail Bergman, Amber Bergman, Tyler Francis, Tyler Fritsche, Kristen Gruenwald, Abby Hadler, Tyler Hayden, Bryli Koenig, Madaline Koenig, Emma Mueller, Jacob Palmer, Ryan Palmer, Luke Schlichting, Kaitlyn Schloss, Collin Stief, Miranda Stortz, Paige Yamnitz, Jacob Yantis...

St. Vincent High School 1st Honors 12th grade -- Alex Armbruster, Justin Balsman, Andrew Blair, Anthony Brown, Jason Brown, Stacy Brown, Tessie Brueckner, Jacob DeWilde, Philip Graf, Laura Gremaud, Joey Guilliams, Luke Guyot, Jamie Haertling, Greg Hoernig, Elizabeth Kasten, Tyler Lozier, Mark Prost, Danny Rellergert, Crystal Rhoden, Michael Ruch, Amber Schnurbusch, Jennifer Sutterer...

Kelly Middle School A Honor Roll 8th grade--Carmen Abate, Brooke Carlyle, Curtis Carter, Ashley Flahardy, Kyle Householder, Clayton Powell, Jessica Riley. 7th grade--Londyn Backfisch, Ariel Morrow, Cory Slusher. 6th grade--Jennifer Abate, Douglas Beggs, Taylor Beggs, Audrey Camren, Lindie Perry, Kristen Powell, Kevin Tew, Stacey Tucker...

Delta High School First quarter A honor roll 12th grade -- Kevin Bartels, Jessica Bowers, Krystal Burnett, Sarah Cook, Jessica Coomer, Jenny Dannenmueller, Ashley Elliott, Katherine Holt, Jessica Livingston, Brent Menz, James Sanders, Amon Seabaugh, Kristy Stovall...

Oran High School Honor Roll 12th grade--Amanda Eftink, Josh Glueck, Sierra Glueck, Ashley Heisserer, Brittney Heisserer, Garrett Jansen, Travis Randolph, Clayton Scherer, Tori St. Cin. 11th grade--Kyle Campbell, Lauryn Crites, Carmen Duncan, Sarah Eftink, Jonathan Fowler, Jeremy Griffin, Quentin Hanselman, Jarrid McIntyre, Jerrica McKnight, Wes Pind, Josh Puckett, Wil Sikes, Ashleigh Wasson, Jessica Womack...

St. Vincent de Paul School A Honor Roll 4th grade--Nicholas Bira, Jacob Cieslewicz, Emily Davis, Chelsea Hastings, Nic Norman. 5th grade--Savanna Ayers, Alex Baker, Joshua Baumgart, Brooke Bohnert, Abby Crites, Lindsey Davis, Madeline Dufek, Kate Edwards, Kelly Kapp, Elizabeth Kiblinger, Morgan Morris, Jessica Pfau, Seth Robert, Philip Schuchardt, Vance Toole...

Notre Dame High School A Honor Roll 12th grade -- Jessica Andersen, Joshua Beussink, Lauren Beussink, Emily Bira, Ryan Bollinger, Laura Browne, Kent Buxton, Austin Critchlow, Kathryn Daniel, Otto Davis, Zachary Dillard, Rita Jo Dirnberger, Ashley Dix, Steven Eeftink, Katrina Eftink, Allison Essner, Amanda Essner, Blake Essner, Lauren Essner, Rachael Essner, Renee Essner, Sarah Gaines, Kirby Gartland, Dee Goodin, Chris Heggemann, Levi Horrell, Sarah Huber, Jordan Janet, Aaron Jenkins, Jessica Klipfel, Alison Martin, Brian McCrate, Sarah McDonald, Eric McLain, Lauren Mehner, Tyler Menz, Katie Mohundro, Amanda Morrow, Sarah Nenninger, Whitney Ostendorf, Max Poppen, Kenny Richardson, Rachel Roggow, Megan Rosenquist, Alison Roth, Kelsey Scheeter, Sarah Scherer, Kenneth Schmitz, Nicholas Schwartz, Katie Spalding, Megan Stidham, Mark Unterreiner, Nigel Vorbrich, Justin Voss, Rachael Weidenbenner, Alana Weissmueller, Jessica Westrich, Bryce Willen.. ...

Meridian High School High Honor Roll 12th grade -- Janice Barnett, Kayla Bone, Shanique Lincoln, Mechelle Pratt, Rita Schoffner. 11th grade -- Sacarya Gleghorn, Segan Humble. 9th grade -- Janet Jones, Kimberly Nance, Jeremy Polley. Honor Roll 12th grade -- Donisha Blake, Roddrick Bowers, Jazmine Bruce, Laurice Copeland, Tameika English, Brittany Garrett, Ashley Griffin, Akeydra Humble, Karyn King, IShida Mitchell, Tabatha Pace, Tiara Ross, Tamera Sawyer, Kendra Smith...

Jackson West Lane Elementary School A Honor Roll 5th grade -- Melinda Atkinson, Kyle Best, Clay Birk, Megan Bradshaw, Morgan Carlisle, Jake Colyott, Elizabeth Harvey, Rachel Hodo, Trevor Jaco, Atticus Parris, Levi Rutherford, Kathy Scienski, Victoria Smith, Mandy Whitlow, Nichole Winchester, Celeste Bolen, Mary Grieshop, Dustin Hamilton, Chelsea McDowell, Molly Morris, Landon Morrow, Colten Cook, Kelsey Fellows, Olivia Jaco, Chade McDaniel, Caitlin Roberts, Kailey Adams, Austin Baker, Clayton Baker, Shelly Bodenstein, Jordan Kinder, Russell Pagano, Megan Stone, Lia Beckett, Cody Evans, Shelby Fadler, Logan Green, Torrie Lape, Tyler Lutes, Madeline McCallister, Austin Miller, Mikayla Robertson, Julia Weber, Logan Wessell, Landon Beck, Caitlyn Bess, Spencer Biri, McKenzie Bradshaw, Lexi Cross, Drew Garvey, Micayla Gray, Natalie Miller, Cole Pingel, Emily Rodman, Steven Sebastian, Seth Tyler, Kristen Boyd, Law Duncan, Mackenzie Dunning, Kayla Holshouser, Adam James, Dylan Koehler, Beth Rouggly.. ...

** Immaculate Conception School A Honor Roll 8th grade -- Courtney Beussink, Travis Halter, Rachel Litzelfelner, Megan Moore, Samantha Rellergert, Taylor Sanders, Landon Wallace. 7th grade -- Nicole Banda, Mary Ann Bradshaw, Rachel Buchheit, Melissa Krydynski, Hilary Michelson, Hannah Nenninger, Tyson Stoverink, Austin Sutterer, Jessica Triller, Taylor Williams...

** St. Vincent Junior High School (Perryville) 1st Honors 8th grade -- Briana Burroughs, Jason Carron, Austin Davis, Sarah DeWilde, Valerie Finger, Dalton Franklin, Ashley Grogg, Bayley Hotop, Shelby Hotop, Janel Koenig, Justin L'Hote, Heidi Lappe, Maria Lundy, Carissa Luttrell, Morgan Moll, Zach Naeger, Shawn Renner, Anne Steele, Kelly Steinbecker, Jessica Sutterer, Lindsey Wehmeyer...

Clippard Elementary School First quarter A honor roll 4th grade -- Lance Brannock, Michael Cooper, Lucas Counts, Caleb DeLoach, Alex Dorris, Elizabeth Graeble, Claire Herbst, Ben Hinton, Cali Knepp, Bailey Kratochvil, Chleo LeGrand, Billy Leighton, Tammy Nunnally, Caroline Retter, Sam Rhodes, Taylor Rinda, Zach Schmitt, Kelsy Ward, Ryan Watts, Katie Williams, Layne Wilson, Kaleb Wooldridge...

Scott City Middle School A Honor Roll 6th grade -- Zach Bradshaw, Brooke Dohogne, Andrew Hayes, Courtney Holder, Melanie Lacey, Myriah Miller, Corey Rodgers, Garett Spinks, Katessa Simmons, Randy Tapley. 7th grade -- Olivia Bradshaw, Hayley Compass, Katie Diebold, Taylor Gilmer, Lindsey Hadley, Rachel Reed, Holli Shemonia, Brooke Simpson...

** Chaffee Elementary School 3rd grade -- Ethan Bedwell, Tyler Bollinger, Chase Eubank, Travis Hall, Cody Payne, Trenton Pennington, Jennifer Sutterfield, D.J. White, Megan Wiley, Justin Wilson, Brandon Winchester. 4th grade -- Daniel Day, Eastin Harrell, Jessie Horman, Kaitlyn Miller, Jazmin Sadler, Molly Qualls, Bailey Swinford, Jared Walker, Amanda Welborn, Erica Welter, Dillon Williams...

Leopold Elementary Honor Roll 4th grade-- Brett Cornman, Katie Eftink, Taylor Eftink, Ryan Huff, Daniel James, Brandon Jansen, James Jansen, Shelbee Miller, Jessie Smith, Brook Steinnerd, Katie Stone, Kyle Stroder, Dana Thiele, Ryan Thiele, Katie Van de Ven, Allison Woodfin...

Oak Ridge Jr. & Sr. High A Honor Roll 6th grade -- Rachel Barks, Ethan Siemer 8th grade -- Jessica Aden, Nikki Moll 10th grade -- Kia Thomas, Amanda Watson 11th grade -- Kyle Buchheit B Honor Roll 6th grade -- Savannah Aldredge, Jasmine Clark, Lacey Dowdy, Brittany Durham, Brooke...

** Jackson Middle School Scholastic Honor Roll 7th grade -- Kelsey Bierman, Amber Crites, Kelly Crites, Jenny Eichhorn, Phillip O'Kelly, Courtney Rodman, Benjamin Schloss, Kailyn Schutte, Sydney Stein, Holt Walker, Jordan Whitener. 6th grade -- Hayley Bohnert, Renee Eddy, Zachary McDowell, Jack Meyer, Donald Perry, Ashley Robinson, Mason Sander, Rachel Williamson...

Oran Middle School Honor Roll 8th grade--Jake Carter, Natalee Glastetter, Ashleigh Green, Crysten Heisserer, Erica Morrow, Victoria Westrich. 7th grade--Tori Caldwell, Megan Cook, Cassie Evans, Deshae Gilbert, Taylor Irwin, Alex Lasser, Mac McConnell, Austin Nenninger, Brittany Ward...

** Cape Christian School A honor roll 7th grade -- Meg Goodman, Megan Keesee, Sarah Schenimann, Mollie Young. 6th grade -- Christopher Dedert, Trace Janota, Paige Kiefner, Christen Limbaugh, Lars Monia, Victoria Parry, Collin Summers. 5th grade -- Alicia Arnold, Clayton Carver, Barry DeCoursey, Dustin Peetz...

Oak Ridge Elementary School 4th grade -- Jordyn Aden, Georgia Austin, Emilie Beard, Carlie Bolen, Danielle Daume, Austin Dowdy, Grace Fox, Caleb Johnston, Paige Kimbel, Shelby Mangels, Katie Newell, Dawn Palmer, Lance Rohde, Ethan Seyer, Hunter Seyer, Sarrina...

Today Grief support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. in conference room A at the Saint Francis Education Center. For information, call Denise Essner at 651-4617. Saturday Parents' Night Out for children ages 6 to 13 at Main Street Fitness Center in Jackson. Evening includes exercise, crafts and games. To register, call 243-2211...

Eat, drink and be merry. No problem. Pleasure is a good thing, right? Not so fast. We've come a long way baby, but we are still the cultural offspring of Puritans. We can easily feel guilty about indulging in anything that, well, gives us pleasure. If it feels good, it must be bad for us and we'd better find that appropriate 12-step program fast...

Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest-home; All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin. -- Henry Alford (1810-1871) "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" Thousands of voices will sing these words on this national day of thanksgiving...

We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. Psalm 65 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions...

PERRY COUNTY, Mo. -- A motorist from North Carolina sustained minor injuries at 6:55 p.m. Monday when her vehicle struck a deer on Interstate 55 in Perry County a half mile north of County Road 830. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Julianne Helper, 40, of Charlotte, N.C., struck the deer, went off the right side of the road, hit a sign, went down an embankment, struck several small trees and then hit a second embankment...

** Cape Girardeau The following items were released Wednesday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Heather M. Cline, 19, 1022 Jefferson St., was arrested on suspicion of stealing in connection with a report of a theft from Wal-Mart, 3439 William St...

** Firefighters responded to the following on Tuesday: At 9:21 p.m., a blown transformer in the 700 block of Enterprise Street. Firefighters responded to the following on Wednesday: At 8:39 a.m., emergency medical service in the unit block of South Benton Street...

Authorities say a juvenile taken into custody for making bombs found directions on the Internet. By Jonathon Dawe ~ Dexter Daily Statesman DEXTER, Mo. -- Where do your children go when they log on to the Internet? Do you know? According to Dexter Police Department detective Trevor Pulley, they could be going to any number of harmful places...

Ministerial alliance will trade candy for cans The Jackson Ministerial Alliance will hold their "Candy for Cans" campaign during the Jackson Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. Area pastors will be walking the parade route and picking up canned goods from the crowd in exchange for candy. Canned food donations will stock the ministerial alliance's food pantry to help alleviate hunger for low-income families...

PHILADELPHIA Romualdo Rivera arrives at the emergency room with what seems to be a complaint of chest pain. But it's hard to be sure -- he doesn't speak English. He's a pale but solidly built man with thinning, gray hair, and his face reddens as his shirt is removed, his pant legs are pushed up and electrodes are attached to his calves and chest...

Mickey Poduje, 50, had been out all day with her husband Noel on their 32-foot motorboat off the Massachusetts coast. When they returned to the dock, she climbed out to do her usual job of securing the lines. Then she collapsed. It was a stroke. A blood vessel had burst in her brain, paralyzing her right side and leaving her mute at first. At the rehabilitation hospital she just mostly said "when ... when ... when" over and over again...

Hobeck Son to Ron and Lisa Hobeck of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:17 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2004. Name, Joey Ron. Weight, 8 pounds 5 ounces. Third son. Mrs. Hobeck is the former Lisa Reisenbichler, daughter of Cheryl Knapp of Whitewater. Hobeck is the son of Marga Elbrecht of Jackson. He is a deputy with Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department...

MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Margot Eby Holmes, 69, of Matthews died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at her home. She was born May 4, 1935, in Bunceton, Mo., daughter of John H. and Alice Rachel Engle. She and Charles Eby were married in 1955. He died Aug. 8, 1984. She and Jim Holmes were married July 4, 1992...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Michael L. Douglas, 33, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, as a result of an automobile accident. He was born Nov. 4, 1971, in Cape Girardeau, son of Butch and Terra Kinder Douglas. Douglas was a truck driver. He attended Marble Hill United Methodist Church...

ORAN, Mo. -- Mae Murray, 86, of Oran died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 19, 1918, at Doniphan, Mo., daughter of James Hamilton and Elizabeth Amelia Fisher Grant. She and Earl Monroe Murray Sr. were married June 30, 1936. He died Aug. 3, 1989...

** Kids too big for play area THE SMOKING at the entrance of the mall does bother me. I don't complain. I use another entrance. What does bother me is that the play area is being abused by kids who are too old for it. My 2-year-old has to constantly watch for these kids so they don't fall on him when they are climbing on the equipment...

Baseball n Three-time All-Star catcher Jason Kendall was close to being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Oakland Athletics for a pair of pitchers, a baseball official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Pirates would get left-handed starter Mark Redman, who went 11-12 with a 4.71 ERA, and left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes, who was 3-3 with nine save and a 5.12 ERA, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity,...

** Baseball Pitching lessons: Former Southeast Missouri State University baseball All-American and current professional pitcher Todd Pennington is conducting pitching lessons for all ages. Pennington is with the Cleveland Indians organization. Info: (618) 203-8093...

Southeast Missouri State University's 107-45 women's basketball destruction of overmatched Lyon College on Tuesday not only was the team's first win of the season -- it also represented a historic victory for the program. The 107 points set a school single-game scoring record for Southeast's women. The previous record of 106 points was reached twice, in 1987 (106-57 against Missouri Baptist) and 1985 (106-41 against Southern Indiana)...

A Class 2 state title helped Kelly land four players on the all state team picked by the Missouri Softball Coaches Association. All four Kelly players were seniors, led by pitcher Whitney Beggs. Beggs nearly pitched a perfect game in the state championship game, allowing a hit in the bottom of the seventh inning. ...

Proceeds will benefit families, children and the arts. By Chris Pagano ~ The Associated Press The 17th annual Lutheran Family and Children's Services and Arts Council of Southeast Missouri holiday home tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4. Tourists looking for a little holiday spirit can enjoy the variety of festively decorated historical, remodeled and newly built homes shared by homeowners in the community...