Stories from Saturday, October 22, 2005

For Southeast Missouri Hospital, healing and the arts go hand in hand, which is why the organization was chosen as the recipient of this year's Jeff Maguire Friend of the Arts Award. In only the fourth year the award has been given, Southeast is the first organization to win the honor. ...

City street crews will vacuum up tons of leaves in Cape Girardeau's residential neighborhoods this fall, a monthlong chore to haul off nature's seasonal trash. It's a huge task, particularly in older neighborhoods where leaves from mature trees blanket the yards...

An early morning raid resulted in 13 people arrested on warrants in Scott County on Friday. The Scott County Sheriff's Department Emergency Response Team cooperated with officers from the police departments from Scott City, Morley and Oran, and the SEMO Drug Task Force to serve 17 warrants issued in the last week. They were issued after officers served search warrants during investigations...

CHICAGO -- Roger Clemens is the old stubbly face in a World Series filled with bubbly newcomers. He's had more farewell seasons than the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox have World Series titles, more awards than every other player on both rosters combined. And tonight, the 43-year-old Rocket will start for the Astros in his hometown team's World Series debut, opposed by former Yankees teammate Jose Contreras...

It was a long day in more ways than one Friday for Central tennis players Dani Gross, Monica Toole, Sarah Ford and Lindsey Pingel at the Class 2 state tournament in Springfield, Mo. The four Central players were scheduled to begin their doubles play in the individual portion of the tournament at 10:15 a.m., but they did not get on the courts until after 2 p.m. ...

Recent history tells Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope that his Colonels should not take winless Southeast Missouri State lightly. Hopes knows that another slip-up at home against the Redhawks (0-6, 0-3 Ohio Valley Conference) could cost the Colonels (3-4, 3-1) any chance of winning the OVC championship...

The Jackson football team fell behind 23-0 in the first quarter, as host Rockwood Summit began Class 5 District 1 play with a 30-6 victory Friday night. The Indians, who had a four-game winning snapped, fell to 5-3, while the Falcons improved to 4-4...

CARY, N.C. -- What could be better than waking up on Martha Stewart sheets in a Martha Stewart bed, drying off after your shower with Martha Stewart towels, gardening with Martha Stewart tools, and ending your day with a Martha Stewart recipe served on Martha Stewart plates at a Martha Stewart table?...

AUSTIN -- Texas coach Mack Brown doesn't want to hear about Texas Tech's soft early season schedule and how the Red Raiders' score-a-minute offense piles up points against inferior teams. He says the Red Raiders are more dangerous than ever and could derail the Longhorns' goals of winning Big 12 and national championships...

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- President Bush on Friday compared the war against terrorism to Ronald Reagan's battle against communism and vowed that the United States would prevail over Islamic extremists just as it did in the showdown with the Soviet Union...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Google Inc.'s market value briefly surpassed $100 billion for the first time Friday, its stock scaling new heights after an earnings and revenue spike that astonished investors. The online search leader's shares traded as high as $346.43 on the Nasdaq Stock Market before backtracking as the day progressed. The shares had gained $36.16, or 11.9 percent, as their price eased to $339.36 in late afternoon trading...

Cape Girardeau...

Philip J. and Catherine J. Brazer, husband and wife, ages 83 and 85 of Jackson, passed away Thursday, Oct. 20, and Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, respectively, at Missouri Veterans Home and the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Philip was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Baltimore, Md., son of Frank and Lula Thompson Brazer. Catherine was born Nov. 22, 1919, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Harry and Rose Bennett Hamilton. They were married April 7, 1951, married 54 years upon their deaths...

Earlier this year, the Missouri Department of Corrections changed a policy which required the department to provide transportation to a clinic for inmates seeking an abortion. The new policy, which went into effect Sept. 5, restricted help in obtaining an abortion to female inmates whose lives or health were endangered...

Britain and Croatia confirm bird flu cases; British commemorate anniversary of Trafalgar

To the editor: Halloween behind every tree bothering your child? Try this. Sing, rap, dance and have fun with your child using the old song "The Monster Mash." Monster does the mash He does the monster mash ... Fake monster, go dance the mash The monster mash. Scram!...

To the editor: I find it interesting that the article on the front page of the sports section today, Oct. 18, 2005, written by Mike Fitzpatrick with The Associated Press, was unable to complete the remark "Oh, my God." He was commenting on Astros' starter Andy Pettitte in the dugout after Pujols hit the three-run homer. ...

Too many Limbaughs; Rush on Democrats; Penny fan; Mail student invitations; Question of time; Kempe's right; Railroad responsibility; How to be accepted; Down the path; Viewing the governor; People are the same; By the book; Not offended; Second thoughts; Prepay for gas; NRA fan; Inmate's abortion; Tacky streets

Howard Richard Penrod, 74, of Ft. Worth, Texas, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 17, 1931, at Neelys Landing, son of Clinton and Hannah Josephine Pinkerton Penrod. He and Catherine L. Griffin were married Jan. 15, 1954. She died Feb. 1, 2002...

Eugene Robert "Gene" Leimbach, 74, of Jackson passed away Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 8, 1930, in Pocahontas, son of the late Otto and Julia Hemmann Leimbach. He and Geraldine "Geri" Boren were married July 6, 1952, in Pocahontas...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Donald J. Taylor, 75, of Mounds died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, at his home. He was born Oct. 22, 1929, in Mounds, son of J. Curtis and Fern Taylor. He and Alta Mae Sowers were married in 1949. Taylor had worked for Illinois Central Railroad and Bunge Corp. of Cairo, Ill., and was a former city councilman in Mounds. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and Lions Club in Mounds, and was a timekeeper many years for Meridian School basketball games...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Sonja Sue Dobbelare, 64, of Perryville died Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Aug. 10, 1941, in Perry County, daughter of Otto J. and Hazel A. Huber Schumer. She and Floyd F. Dobbelare were married Oct. 7, 1961, in Perryville...

25 years ago: Oct. 22, 1980 CAIRO, Ill. -- The capacity of the Alexander County jail, by federal order, has been reduced from 24 to a maximum of 12 inmates and to six on a long-term basis; that is one result of a consent agreement reached Oct. 15 in a civil rights suit filed in September 1977 over conditions at the county jail...

Kieffer; Ham; Holden; Francis; Wiggins; Hartman; Poteete; Hempstead; Carmack

Anna Lee Livers, 78, of Jackson died Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, at her home. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

Brick comes in a variety of different colors: dark, light, red-brown, nearly yellow. The two-story brick home at 814 Caribou Court in the Clarkton Subdivision in Cape Girardeau is a kind of translucent rose color...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill was released Friday from the hospital, six days after suffering a seizure during last weekend's game, the school said. He will miss today's game at Indiana State. "We feel confident that Jerry's received the best of care," said Paul Kowalczyk, the school's athletics director. "He's feeling much better, and we're eager to get him back on the sidelines."...

Moments after the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World was suspended because of storms Friday, Tiger Woods unleashed his fury. He reared back and spiked his golf ball onto the cart path in front of the 17th green, sending it 20 feet in the air and into the pond...

New Salem Baptist Academy of Marble Hill won three more matches Friday at the Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association volleyball state championships in Joplin, Mo., to move within two victories of a state title. After going 3-0 in pool play Thursday, New Salem (19-2) finished pool play with two more wins, beating Calvery Christian of Nevada, Mo., 25-22, 25-13 and Riverview Christian of Excelsior Springs, Mo., 25-15, 25-21...

Missouri State game delayed by hurricane SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State's football game at Youngstown State on Saturday has been pushed back due to Hurricane Wilma. While Ohio is nowhere near the south Florida area bracing for the hurricane, the storm has had an impact on Missouri State's travel plans. ...

At one time, St. Louis was considered the soccer capital of the country. In high school boys soccer, St. Louis remains the premier region in Missouri. With the continued success of Cape Girardeau schools Central and Notre Dame, it appears Southeast Missouri is slowly starting to gain respect across the state...

MIAMI -- The Kansas City Chiefs canceled a practice and rushed to pack, then caught an early flight and landed less than six hours before kickoff. When the game began, they were ready. With Hurricane Wilma scrambling the schedule, the Chiefs shook off any travel fatigue to beat the Miami Dolphins 30-20 on Friday night...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team picked up an important Ohio Valley Conference road victory Friday afternoon, slipping past Murray State 2-1 in overtime. The Redhawks improved to 10-4-1 overall and 5-2-1 in OVC play, while the Racers fell to 6-9-1 and 5-3 as they had their five-match winning streak stopped...

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Tony Stewart was the fastest among 11 drivers who broke the track qualifying record for Martinsville Speedway, turning a lap at 98.083 mph under an overcast sky Friday to win the pole position for Sunday's Subway 500. Stewart's lap easily eclipsed the mark of 97.043 mph set by Ryan Newman in this race a year ago, and eased Virginia native Ricky Rudd to the outside of the first row...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Blake Slattery intercepted a pass at his own 20-yard line to help Central hold back Poplar Bluff 31-28 in the Class 4 District 1 opener Friday night. Andy Billmeyer's 31-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter turned out to be the difference...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Notre Dame softball team was down to its final four outs Friday in the Class 3 state semifinal game, needing some magic to stave off a second consecutive semifinal loss. The Bulldogs got it. An intentional walk in the sixth inning was followed by a bloop double that -- thanks to an outield collision -- scored two runs and lifted Notre Dame to a 3-2 victory against Wentzville, Mo., Timberland...

St. Vincent turned two interceptions into touchdowns, and Waylon Richardet scored two TDs to lead the Indians past Chaffee 42-8 on Friday night. The Indians (6-2) won their fifth straight game. Though this was a nonconference game, they are perfect in the Mississippi Area Football Conference Blue Division for small schools at 4-0...

Today, the congregation of New McKendree United Methodist Church has a reason to celebrate. Around 13,000 reasons actually, all in the form of square feet in the church's new Celebration Center on Highway 25. The center, which debuts today with a fall festival event, represents not only additional space for the congregation, but also a new ministry...

To the editor: We, the friends and family of Greg Sparkman, believe he has been unfairly prosecuted and jailed for crimes committed by others. He has been convicted of arson and mail fraud that took place in December 2000. ...

Wearing holey underwear "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold the Judge is standing at the door." James 4:17; 5:1,2,9...

CANCUN, Mexico -- Hurricane Wilma tore into Mexico's resort-studded Mayan Riviera on Friday, filling the streets with water, shattered glass and debris as thousands of stranded tourists hunkered down in hotel ballrooms and emergency shelters. Packing winds of 140 mph, the storm shattered windows and downed trees that crushed cars on the island of Cozumel, a popular cruise-ship stop. Pay phones jutted from floodwaters in the famed hotel zone...

First Christian Church holds blood drive Monday; Ecumenical Reformation service at St. Mark; St. Vincent will feature ugly quilts next weekend; Diocese awards Eftink with recognition award; Church of God holds spiritual emphasis event; Today; Fall festival at New McKendree United Methodist Church's new Celebration Center from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday; Lutheran Women's Missionary League of Altenburg zone fall rally at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Mo. Registration from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Two new assistant prosecuting attorneys bring the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office to full strength. Both are graduates of the 2005 University of Missouri-Columbia law school class. Michael S. Linsenmeyer tried his first bench trial and covered his first docket on Oct. ...

New traffic signals, currently flashing yellow, will be fully activated on Monday to regulate traffic at the intersection of South Kingshighway and Silver Springs Road, state highway officials said. The new signals are part of a $1 million intersection improvement and relocation project...

No one was injured on Thursday evening when a masked man robbed the Town House Inn at gunpoint. At about 10:15 p.m., a young man reportedly entered the main lobby of the motel at 505 N. Kingshighway. He aimed a gun at the clerk and directed her behind the counter, where she pulled all the cash from the drawer...

In the event a gas explosion traps victims in a home, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department would be the first to respond. Severe structural damage would prevent anyone from just walking through the front door and pulling each victim out. Interior floors could collapse onto lower levels and unstable walls could crumble. Hazardous materials could lurk due to the damage, and victims could be trapped under heavy debris...

At least four reports of a pickpocket scheme have been reported since Wednesday, the Cape Girardeau Police Department said. The victims are elderly women who were reportedly approached by a well-dressed black man at restaurants and shopping areas on the city's west side. While he distracted them, one or two other black men would steal money and items from the womens' purses...

Tax dollars spent to help low-income Missourians with utility bills will be used to pay for fuel rather than for deposits and reconnection fees, Gov. Matt Blunt announced Friday. In a move that mirrors an effort announced in Illinois on Oct. 11, utilities in Missouri will waive reconnection fees and deposits from customers receiving help through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jury deliberations are under way in the trial of a man accused of killing a newspaper editor four years ago to get money for a post-Halloween night of underage drinking. Ryan Ferguson, who turned 21 on Wednesday, is on trial for first-degree murder in the death of Kent Heitholt, a Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor who was beaten and strangled in the newspaper parking lot on the morning of Nov. ...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The body of a lawyer in Saddam Hussein's trial was found dumped in the street with two bullet wounds in the head hours after gunmen dressed as security forces took him from his office. A fearful defense team demanded Friday that the trial be delayed or moved out of Iraq...

GHANOOL, Pakistan -- About 200 desperate people pushed and fought each other for milk, bread and other food brought in Friday by mule train -- the first aid to reach their remote mountain village since Pakistan's earthquake left them homeless two weeks ago...

NEW YORK -- AT&T Corp. painted a positive picture Friday with what may be its final earnings report before becoming part of SBC Communications Inc., topping Wall Street forecasts with third-quarter income of $520 million and boosting its revenue forecast for the second time this year. ...

BATON ROUGE, La. -- More arrests are likely as authorities investigate at least 140 patient deaths at nursing homes and hospitals during and after Hurricane Katrina, including allegations that some patients may have been euthanized, the Louisiana attorney general's office said Friday...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Rep. Tom DeLay appeared in court as a criminal defendant for the first time Friday, listening while his lawyer pointedly asked the presiding judge to step aside for making campaign donations to Democrats and their liberal allies. In a hearing that lasted less than five minutes, Judge Bob Perkins deferred further proceedings until a hearing can be held on the congressman's re-quest for a new judge. ...

NEW YORK -- A Texas oil mogul and two Swiss business executives were charged Friday with paying millions in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime in the latest indictment to come out of the U.N. oil-for-food scandal. Oscar S. Wyatt Jr., founder and former chairman of Coastal Corp., was arrested at his home in Houston. The U.S. government was seeking the extradition of oil traders Catalina del Socorro Miguel Fuentes and Mohammed Saidji from Switzerland...

~ A Scott City patrolman lost 134 pounds so he could join the Army National Guard. jmetelski@semissourian.com

For the first time in 20 years, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has awarded two people with its Otto Dingeldein Award. The award is given each year to an individual in Southeast Missouri whose artistic achievements have enriched local culture. It was started in 1975, and named after the founder of the Arts Council and the award's first recipient...