Stories from Sunday, December 19, 2004

Vandals broke windows on a dozen vehicles throughout the city, Cape Girardeau police said Saturday. Another vehicle was damaged and yard ornaments broken in the 900 block of South Pacific Street, police said. Vehicle windows were broken on Bellevue Street, Oak Hills Drive, North Street, Parksite Drive, Washington Avenue, Dunklin Street, Normal Avenue, West End Boulevard, Penny Avenue and Bloomfield Street...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A special state commission that was constitutionally required to meet this year and recommend salary adjustments for state elected officials and judges was never even appointed, and the reason why this mandate apparently was ignored is unclear...

MELVERN, Kan. -- A woman charged with killing an expectant mother and cutting the baby from her womb was showing the child off to people at a cafe and to her pastor hours before she was arrested, residents said Saturday. Lisa M. Montgomery, 36, was charged Friday with kidnapping resulting in murder and was expected to appear in federal court Monday. The baby, whose mother had been eight months pregnant, was in good condition...

Cape Girardeau lawyer Don Dickerson doesn't have an office or receive a salary at Southeast Missouri State University. But in many ways, he's been the public face of the institution for nearly a dozen years now as an outspoken member of the board of regents...

Missouri Public Service commissioner Jeff Davis told Southeast Missouri State University graduates Saturday that they should listen to the advice of their parents. "Your parents' knowledge is hard earned in the academy of life," the 1994 Southeast graduate told the 728 graduating students at the commencement ceremony at the Show Me Center. A crowd of about 3,800 witnessed the graduation ceremony...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Fifty-seven children went on a Christmas shopping spree Saturday, courtesy of the Chaffee Chamber of Commerce's Helping Hands program. More than 100 people -- children, family members and friends -- filled Chaffee VFW Post 3127 to enjoy a light breakfast before the shopping cash was distributed. Some stayed behind as adult volunteers and Future Business Leaders of America students escorted the children shopping...

Spending the holidays away from friends, family traditions and home-cooked meals can be tough for anyone. This year the holidays are going to be particularly rough for families in Southeast Missouri who have a loved one serving in Iraq. "There are those of us who are really dreading this holiday season because we can only think of our families and that we are away from them," wrote Kyle Meadows in an e-mail to the newspaper. ...

Vicki Lea Wachter and Clayton Wayne Helderman were married Oct. 30, 2004, at Burfordville Baptist Church. The Revs. Jim Cogdill and Morris Cobb performed the ceremony. Parents of the couple are Charley and Retha Wachter of Altenburg, Mo., and Wayne and Georgia Helderman of Whitewater...

Laurie McConnell and Larry Law exchanged wedding vows Oct. 9, 2004, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Delavan, Ill. Warren and Florence McConnell of Delavan are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Melvin and Dorothy Law of Scott City. The bride's attendants were Ellen McConnell, Julie Carl, Angie Konz and Julie Manley...

Cheryl Renee Hendricks and Robert Warren Roeger were married Nov. 27, 2004, at Illmo United Methodist Church in Scott City. The Rev. Jim Woeltje performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Rutha Rogers of Cape Girardeau, and the late Carl Rogers of Scott City. The groom is the son of Warren and Beverly Roeger of Sun City, Ariz...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Diane Sue Clifton and Randy Joe Elfrink exchanged vows July 24, 2004, at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Mo. The Rev. Bill Huggins performed the ceremony. Organist was Mary Jansen, and soloist was Jill Bollinger. The bride is the daughter of Laverne Clifton of Perryville. James and Rachel Elfrink of Leopold are parents of the groom...

Lori Ann Gielow and Thomas Wayne Sample exchanged vows Aug. 11, 2004, on Makena Beach in Maui, Hawaii. The bride is the daughter of Eugene and Nadine Gielow of Pinckneyville, Ill. The groom is the son of Lester and Margaret Sample of Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Mike Pobst of Sikeston celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary Nov. 29, 2004, at River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Mo. Pobst and Lisa Gregory were married Nov. 29, 1974, at Morley Baptist Church by the Rev. Liston Smith...

Becky Reiker and Mike Erzfeld announce their engagement. She is the daughter of JoAnn Reiker of Cape Girardeau, and the late Robert Reiker. Erzfeld is the son of Herman and Lunette Erzfeld of Uniontown, Mo. Reiker is a 1984 graduate of Notre Dame High School, and a 1989 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Metro Title Inc...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Jim and Robin Boyd of Sedgewickville announce the engagement of their daughter, Holly Renee Boyd, to Jason Alan Floyd. He is the son of Doug and Susan Floyd of Millersville and Kyle and Linda Brotherton of Jackson. Boyd is a 2002 graduate of Meadow Heights High School in Patton, Mo., and a graduate of Trend Setters School of Cosmetology. She is a stylist with Designing Team in Jackson...

MORLEY, Mo. -- George and Margaret Stanley of Morley announce the engagement of their daughter, Karen Stanley Harris, to Robert "Shane" Dirnberger. He is the son of Butch and Cathy Dirnberger of Oran, Mo., and the late Carole Dirnberger. Harris is a 1985 graduate of Oran High School. She is employed at Galaxy Cablevision in Sikeston, Mo...

Rachel Marie Meadows and William Michael Dailey were married June 26, 2004, at Macedonia Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. The Rev. Stan Nelson performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Steve and Linda Meadows of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Wayne and Linda Dailey of Willard, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Thomas of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner and dance Nov. 27, 2004, at Drury Lodge. Hosts were their children, Gina Thomas of St. Ann, Mo., and Dennis and Kelly Kern of Chaffee, Mo. Thomas and Shirley Wright were married Dec. 18, 1954, at First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau...

Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim was the setting May 8, 2004, for the wedding of Sarah LouAnne Moore and Matthew Anthony Preusser. The Rev. David Burge performed the ceremony. Soloists were Nollie Moore Jr. of Columbia, Mo., brother of the bride, and Brittany Moore of Pocahontas, sister-in-law of the bride...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Karry Kohlfeld and Travis Brim were married June 12, 2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Apple Creek, Mo. The Rev. Anthony Datillo performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Larry and Karen Kohlfeld of Perryville. The groom is the son of Wayne and Marilyn Brim of Jackson...

Brandi Shane Nine and John Benjamin Ritter were united in marriage Aug. 28, 2004, at Francine's Gardens. The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Luther and Nina Peterson of Crowley, Texas, and Pat and Donna Kane of Nashville, Tenn. The groom is the son of the late Dr. C. John and Donna Ritter, and stepmother, Marcia Ritter of Cape Girardeau...

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- A federal judge has awarded an Internet service provider more than $1 billion in what is believed to be the largest judgment ever against spammers. Robert Kramer, whose company provides e-mail service for about 5,000 subscribers in eastern Iowa, filed suit against 300 spammers after his inbound mail servers received up to 10 million spam e-mails a day in 2000, according to court documents. ...

COBURG, Ore. -- Forget the red poinsettias. Now, you can deck the halls in purple, peach, or even tie-dyed. Oregon's largest producer of poinsettias is offering the traditional Christmas plant in multiple colors. The dye is permanent. It's a mixture of ethanol and special pigment that is actually beneficial to the plant, said Sherrie Lewis, who manages the annuals department of the Johnson Brothers Greenhouse...

NANAIMO, British Columbia -- It wasn't the Grinch that ruined the annual Christmas herring sale, it was the sea lions. Herring were in abundance but couldn't be brought into the boats because of the danger from hundreds of voracious sea lions, said Bob Carpenter, 63, a member of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union...

ANKARA, Turkey -- Thousands of cheering supporters showered Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with ticker tape Saturday as he returned to Ankara from a European summit, vowing to press forward with reforms and the country's bid to join the bloc...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The former general known as "Chemical Ali," notorious for allegedly gassing thousands of Kurds, looked haggard and leaned on a cane in a court Saturday as Iraq's U.S.-backed government speeded the pace of legal proceedings against Saddam Hussein's henchmen before next month's critical elections...

Osama bin Laden claims to have bled the Soviet Union into bankruptcy as an Islamic guerrilla fighter in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Could he do the same to another hated superpower -- the United States? The al-Qaida leader's latest purported communication drove home the point by calling on militants to stop the flow of oil to the West and praising a Dec. 6 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil producer...

ST. LOUIS -- A man who said he didn't know a 4-year-old girl was inside a car when he shot the girl's father and stole his vehicle has been convicted of murder but acquitted of kidnapping. Larry Miller, 22, of University City faces a possible five life terms in prison plus 15 years, when he is sentenced Feb. 3 for second-degree murder, robbery, assault and armed criminal action. The verdict was reached late Thursday...

LA PLATA, Md. -- Three more people, including at least one volunteer firefighter, were arrested Saturday in connection with the largest residential arson in Maryland history, a collection of blazes that caused $10 million in damage to new houses in an upscale development...

SAN FRANCISCO -- The committee tasked with doling out California's $3 billion in stem cell research grants has selected two of its leaders, despite conflict of interest complaints and accusations that its inaugural gathering violated the state's open meeting laws...

Southeast Missouri State University made Southern Illinois work hard before the Salukis could escape Cape Girardeau with a victory Saturday night. The heavily favored Salukis led the entire second half but had to survive a pair of Southeast shots that would have tied the game in the closing seconds before holding on for a 72-68 victory...

Apparently, the Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team and the University of Illinois-Chicago are two evenly matched teams. On Saturday, Illinois-Chicago got even for an overtime loss suffered a month earlier, defeating Southeast 78-76...

The Kelly girls basketball won its opening game at the Twin Rivers Christmas Tournament and remained unbeaten on the season. Kelly defeated New Madrid County Central 67-50 on Saturday. The Hawks (6-0) next play at 5 p.m. Tuesday against Charleston in the quarterfinal round...

Team scores Jackson 349, Northwest 325, Troy-Buchanan 280, Seckman 269.5, Fort Zumwalt North 250.5, Marquette 219, Parkway West 206.5, Francis Howell North 205.5, Ste. Genevieve 204, De Soto 202.5, Christian Brothers 173.5, McCluer North 170, Pattonville 144.5, Mehlville 139.5, Central 126.5, Springfield-Glendale 101.5, Dexter 95, St. Charles 74, Poplar Bluff 40...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The sinking Arizona Cardinals could be just what the St. Louis Rams need to breathe some life into their offense, and their chances for a playoff berth. The Rams come to Arizona today with a 6-7 record after last week's 20-7 loss at Carolina. But in the NFC West, that losing record is good enough to be just one game behind the equally unimpressive Seattle Seahawks...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics traded their second top starter in three days, sending left-hander Mark Mulder to the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday for a package of prospects. Mulder follows Tim Hudson out of town, leaving Barry Zito as the only remaining member of Oakland's vaunted "Big Three" pitchers. Hudson was dealt to Atlanta on Thursday for three mostly unproven players...

At 17,000 feet beneath the surface, the temperature of ocean water is just above freezing, oxygen is sparse and currents are relatively calm. In other words, ideal conditions for preserving an airplane that might have crashed into the depths nearly 70 years ago, according to marine explorer David Jourdan, who hopes to answer one of aviation's greatest mysteries -- the fate of famed pilot Amelia Earhart...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Vehicle insurance rates are sometimes more than twice as high in predominantly minority neighborhoods as elsewhere in Missouri, according to a report from the state Insurance Department. The agency said the difference is not discriminatory, but rather represents insurers' actual losses in those areas. Still, the department said the state should consider whether it's better to spread that risk around...

SKIDMORE, Mo. -- This tiny town in northwest Missouri was acquainted with violence well before someone strangled Bobbie Jo Stinnett Thursday and cut open her belly to steal her unborn child. The town, 101 miles northwest of Kansas City, made national headlines in 1981 when someone shot 47-year-old Ken Rex McElroy, a man with a violent history, to death in broad daylight. No one admitted seeing anything, and the case has never been solved...

NEW YORK -- The megadeal involving Randy Johnson, Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez grew to 10 players Saturday, with the New York Yankees, Arizona and Los Angeles hoping to present the proposed trade to the commissioner's office soon for approval. Pitchers Kaz Ishii, Mike Koplove and Brandon Weeden are now part of the swap, a baseball official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity...

Mary Crowe Carter, 83, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Dec. 17, 2004, in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Carter was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Poplar Bluff to the late Lynn T. Sr. and Columbia (Martin) Metz. Mrs. Carter earned a B.S. in education from Southeast Missouri State University and her M.Ed. in counseling from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and served in the field of education for over 40 years, including three decades spent in Poplar Bluff schools...

Charles R. Zoellner, 59, of Wright City, Mo., died Dec. 17, 2004, at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born on Aug. 2, 1945, at Biehle, Mo., son of Henry and Emma Clara Schumer Zoellner. He was a maintenance worker for the Missouri Department of Transportation...

Charles Peters, 68, of Burfordville died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at his home. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Juanita E. Haas, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. A vigil service will be at 7 p.m., followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary...

Phyllis Dockins Lewis, 98, of Jackson died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 1, 1906, in Sparta, Ill., daughter of Harvey and Margariete Cox McManus. She and C.P. "Pal" Dockins were married March 19, 1923. He died Dec. 2, 1961. On Jan. 29, 1972, she and Richard Lewis married. He died July 15, 2004...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Carolyn Mayberry, 62, of Cairo died Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. The rosary will be at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jerome Fortenberry officiating...

Alberta "Candy" McClellan, 74, of Jackson died Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, at her home. She was born Nov. 16, 1930, at Perryville, Mo., daughter of Charles and Esther Welch Adams. She and Patrick E. McClellan were married Dec. 28, 1973. He died Dec. 6, 1999...

Madeline Stoffregen, 85, of Zalma, Mo., formerly of Scott City, died Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 31, 1919, at Fornfelt, Mo., daughter of Henry Martin and Maggie Lee O'Guin Bader. She and Alvin Ray Stoffregen were married Aug. 17, 1940, at Benton, Mo. He died Jan. 17, 2001...

25 years ago: Dec. 19, 1979 APPLE CREEK, Mo. -- Fire last night destroyed the 71-year-old St. Joseph Catholic School at Apple Creek, forcing its 51 pupils to begin a Christmas break early; while cause of the blaze is undetermined, school officials theorize it might have been the result of faulty electrical wiring...

Praise for downtown; Messy and noisy; Good qualifications; Armor in Iraq; School scheduling; Wonderful concert; The Nixon formula; Elitist attitudes; Deep insecurity; Accomplishments; A place for teens; McCain a liberal?; Majority rules; Serving a need

Brad Noel of Jackson won the Bass Busters of Southeast Missouri Bass fishing tournament Dec. 12 on Lake of Egypt in Southern Illinois. Most anglers reported good fishing and large fish during the practice days before the tournament. Noel focused his efforts on the outside grass lines on the mainlake and in small pockets. He used a green pumpkin Southern Pro Flipping tube exclusively to catch his limit. He found his fish just off the weed edge in 5 to 8 feet of water...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning can sense the changes. After throwing 46 touchdown passes, he sees defenses finally trying to mix things up against the Indianapolis Colts. Last week against Houston, Manning threw two TDs in the first 12 minutes and didn't throw another all day as the Texans dared the Colts to win on the ground...

PHOENIX -- A Missouri jury's $15 million award against "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane has pushed his comic-book business into bankruptcy court. Todd McFarlane Productions Inc. of suburban Tempe, Ariz., filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court...

Rocket carries French spy satellite into space; Cuba to buy $125 million in American farm goods; Yushchenko backers reconsider trip to east

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Saturday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests * A suspect was taken into custody pending the filing of formal charges for traffic violations at West End Boulevard and Linden Street...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls on Friday: * At 5:01 p.m., a false call to the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. * At 5:22 p.m., emergency medical service in the 400 block of North Frederick Street. * At 9:10 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1300 block of North Sprigg Street...

One idea touted by Missouri's governor-elect, Matt Blunt, during the hard-fought campaign was to have the head of the Missouri Department of Transportation appointed by the governor, ending decades of selecting the MoDOT head by the governor-appointed Highways and Transportation Commission...

Spending the holidays away from friends, family traditions and home-cooked meals can be tough for anyone. This year the holidays are going to be particularly rough for families in Southeast Missouri who have a loved one serving in Iraq. "There are those of us who are really dreading this holiday season because we can only think of our families and that we are away from them," wrote Kyle Meadows in an e-mail to the newspaper. ...

ne of the greatest joys of the holiday season is having a home to decorate for the enjoyment of family and friends. The house at 1505 Primrose Lane in Jackson is one of those homes meant for joyous holidays. With four bedrooms and two and a half baths, it has plenty of room for holiday guests. It's located in a well-established neighborhood with attractive homes close to schools and a park. Both inside and outside, it's attractive and easily maintained...

Whether you are counting your credit card transactions, counting your calories or counting on your holiday bonus, counting is a big part of our lives. Counting is important to state biologists and managers because it provides a way to measure what we have today and compare it to what we will have tomorrow...

Not enough wrestling; Support instead of criticism; Puzzled by backlash; Ban Bonds and his ilk; A rose is a rose; Cheer on; More to the story

Kester; Holeheimer; Ennis