Stories from Saturday, December 10, 2005

Southeast Missouri State University athletic officials looked at potential football coaches this week while police looked at football players as potential suspects in a fraternity party beating. The coaching search has had no impact on the investigation, Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer said. The weeklong investigation has stretched out because of the large number of interviews, Selzer said...

The Missouri Housing Development Commission rejected a proposed low-income housing project for Cape Girardeau on Friday, citing strong neighborhood opposition. "It really broke the deal," commission spokesman David Bryan said of the neighborhood opposition...

A top administrator at Southeast Missouri State University will leave to pursue other career opportunities in higher education, school officials said Friday. Dr. Ivy Locke, vice president of business and finance, currently is on paid, personal leave. She will be on leave through the end of the year, university president Dr. Ken Dobbins said...

Craig Schurig has already turned around one struggling football program. Now he'd like the opportunity to do the same at Southeast Missouri State. Schurig, the head coach at Division II Washburn (Kan.) University the past four years, was the first finalist for the vacant Southeast coaching position brought to campus for a series of interviews on Friday...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A main government witness in the failed prosecution of fired HealthSouth Corp. CEO Richard Scrushy was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for his role in a $2.7 billion fraud at the rehabilitation and health services chain...

ST. LOUIS -- Several hundred coal miners from around the country marched through downtown and held a rally outside the world's biggest coal company here, demanding that Peabody Energy Corp. let more of its workers unionize. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said Peabody is driving unions out of its work force through intimidation and firings. Peabody spokesman Vic Svec said the company doesn't want unions, but will give workers free choice in joining or rejecting them...

CHICAGO -- Investigators studied the crash scene Friday after a Southwest Airlines jet trying to land amid heavy snow plowed off a Midway International Airport runway and into a street, killing a 6-year-old boy in a car. Ten other people, most of them on the ground, were injured in the Thursday evening accident, the first fatal crash in Southwest's 35-year history, authorities said. The airport reopened Friday after being closed overnight...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man in prison for robbery has been charged in five rapes that occurred 20 years ago, authorities said Friday. A DNA sample taken earlier this year from Gary L. Jackman, 54, led to the 11-count indictment against him, which could result in several life sentences...

CLAYTON, Mo. -- St. Louis County police said Friday they are holding a man who allegedly swallowed two rings after taking them from a jewelry store. A worker at Samuel's Jewelers said the suspect entered the store at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday and asked to see two rings valued at more than $9,000, according to court records...

In a year built around positive thinking, U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell had to dig deep Friday after dropping four shots over his last four holes for an even-par 72 in the Target World Challenge. "I've actually increased my lead by one shot," Campbell said...

One of the lessons of Hurricane Katrina is that we can never be too prepared for the worst. A flood disaster is always possible here on the banks of the Mississippi River, but it's also likely the New Madrid fault will someday produce an earthquake of catastrophic proportions. If that happens, the region could be isolated for days...

Cape Girardeau...

Colleges; Football; Hockey

25 years ago: Dec. 10, 1980 Although it could be some time before final U.S. Census figures are determined, there is much speculation that one of Missouri's 10 congressional districts will be eliminated through redistricting; all indications point to possible changes in three districts -- including the 10th -- because of population shifts in and around St. Louis...

To the editor: This letter is in response to the Dec. 8 letter regarding state Sen. John Loudon. I have known Senator Loudon for many years. Never once have I seen him do anything to harm a single Missouri citizen. The workers' compensation law he sponsored is no exception. The new law ferrets out fraud and abuse in the system...

ORAN, Mo. -- Hazel Pearl McClelland, 81, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at McKnight Care Center, Presbyterian Homes in Arden Hills, Minn. She was born Aug. 12, 1914, daughter of Jiles William and Lillie Jane Hockersmith Jones. She married Homer Ray McClelland. He died Jan. 29, 1955...

Addie Lorene "Sweetie" Hoffmeister, 96, of Jackson died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born on Aug. 2, 1909, in Fornfelt, Mo., daughter of John and Lula Vancil Mabrey. She and Lawrence "Jack" Hoffmeister were married June 22, 1929. He died June 26, 1986...

Anna E. Sledge, 100, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Dec. 8, 1905, in Vanduser, Mo., daughter of William and Hattie Huffman Harmon. She and Warner Sledge were married March 14, 1925, in Cape Girardeau. He died Sept. 15, 1987...

COBDEN, IlL. -- Beverly R. Walker, 65, of Cobden died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005, from injuries received in a car-train accident in Chester, Ill. She was born May 18, 1940, daughter of Willie and Grace Dunn Miles. She and Willard "Bill" Walker were married Nov. 12, 1961, in Cobden...

Odetta L. Fulton Niswonger, 80, of Cape Girardeau died on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005, at her residence. She was born on July 16, 1925, in Scopus, Mo., daughter of Will L. and Ivy F. Brown Lincoln. She and Linzel E. Fulton were married on March 18, 1943. He died on July 22, 1976. She and Lester D. Niswonger were married on June 6, 1972, in Memphis, Tenn. He died on Sept. 14, 1987...

Surveillance safety; Gigantic step; Grading parents; Christmas thanks; Shortchanged charities; Care and compassion; Bright lights; More, not less

To the editor: In response to the Associated Press story, "Woman left in makeshift grave on N.O. sidewalk laid to rest": On behalf of Frances Briones-Gonzales, (my Aunt Vera Smith's sister), the family is grateful to Chuck Seaman, who made it possible for my Aunt Vera's remains to be brought home to Santa Rosa, Texas, for a decent burial. ...

To the editor: In response to the story, "Sydney's Santa: A little girl's legacy embodies true spirit of Christmas" in the December issue of In the Spirit magazine: I wanted to tell you what a great job you did on the article. I am Sydney's mommy. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with your readers. I would love to hear any response that you get. We have lots of upcoming events related to Sydney's Santa. Thank you, and God bless...

Cape Girardeau...

Toybox When Eugenia discovered her sister and preschool children were living in a situation with a man who cared for drugs more than his family, she offered her home to them. This single mom is behind on her bills and prays for help in this desperate situation. ...

Stock trade error costs Tokyo firm $225 million ; Clinton says Bush is 'flat wrong' on climate ; Man claims self-defense in killing of U.S. nun in Brazil; Iraqi election security forces try to stay invisible

ST. LOUIS -- Just like last year at this time, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves with several holes to fill. General manager Walt Jocketty, returning Friday from largely frustrating winter meetings, knows there is plenty of time to stock the roster. Much higher price tags for free agents this week kept him from doing it already...

Virgil H. Lohman, 81, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home. He was born July 25, 1924, in Friedheim, Mo., son of the late Oscar and Addie Klaus Lohman. He and Marjorie Ruehling were married Jan. 24, 1946. Virgil served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945 during World War II. He was awarded five bronze stars for participation in the campaigns of Normandy, North France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He also received a Purple Heart...

Missourians interested in participating in discussions about the future of transportation in the state can do so via the Internet. The Missouri Advance Planning initiative has set up a website, www.mapourfuture.org, to provide information and give users a chance to understand how the Missouri Department of Transportation allocates money...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's job approval rating is up to 42 percent, the highest level since summer. That's because he shifted into campaign mode to reverse his slide and improved standing with whites, men, Catholics and other core supporters on his handling of Iraq and the economy, an AP-Ipsos poll found. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two people were killed while they slept Friday in a fire that destroyed their mobile home near the Jackson County Sports Complex on Kansas City's east side. The victims' names were not released. ...

The Combat Meth Act, promoted by U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, might be approved next week when Congress debates the USA-Patriot Act Reauthorization Conference Report. The bipartisan anti-meth bill, also promoted by Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., will restrict the sale of and put all pseudo-ephedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine behind pharmacy counters. ...

Narnia has come to Cape Girardeau. When the new movie based on C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" opened in Cape Girardeau Friday night, the Rev. Mike Parry was in line with 280 members of his congregation from Fruitland Community Church...

PERRY COUNTY, Mo. -- Behind the wheel of his white Buick, Robert Fiehler pauses a moment to point out the highlights of one of Wittenberg's finest neighborhoods. "That's where Earl Warren lived. And next door was Rudy Shotty. And that was Paul Lorenz's house," he says, indicating a patch of woods thick with small trees and brush...

NEW YORK -- The first round of the 2006 World Cup looks a lot like 1990 to the United States. The Americans were drawn Friday to open next year's tournament in Germany against the Czech Republic on June 12, then will play Italy on June 17 and Ghana on June 22...

Free-throw shooting played a big role in the semifinals of the Mobil On the Run Classic on Friday, as the Central boys basketball team hit just nine of 19 in a 65-56 loss to Marquette at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Mo. Central trailed 34-33 at halftime and was down two after three quarters. Marquette (3-0) outscored the Tigers (2-3) 14-7 in the final quarter to pull away...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Saudis fumed Friday that Iran's hard-line president marred a summit dedicated to showing Islam's moderate face by calling for Israel to be moved to Europe, and the chief U.N. nuclear inspector said he was losing patience with the Tehran regime...

Taking advantage of a big size advantage -- Jackson's boys basketball team has just three players on its 13-man varsity team shorter than 6-foot-2 while Dexter had just two players 6-2 or taller -- the Indians posted a 76-57 victory against the Bearcats at home on Friday...

Now Southeast Missouri State can finally concentrate on Tennessee Tech. Coach B.J. Smith had preached to the Redhawks that they could not afford to look past Tennessee State and ahead to the Eaglettes. The Redhawks took care of visiting Tennessee State in Thursday's Ohio Valley Conference opener, although they struggled some before winning 71-53...

Tennessee Tech wasn't deemed the Ohio Valley Conference favorite entering this year, even though the Eagles are the defending regular-season champions. But if voting was done right now, Southeast Missouri State coach Gary Garner believes the Eagles just might get the nod from the rest of the league...

Despite falling short in the district championship game for the third straight season, Notre Dame's boys soccer team placed five players on the Class 2 Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association all-state team. Senior defender Andrew Buelow and senior midfielder Frankie Ellis led the way for the Bulldogs, as both players made the first team. Senior goalie Nathan Kolda and senior defender Jacob Wengert each made second-team, and junior midfielder Jack Wedemeier made honorable mention...

"What do you want for Christmas?" is a common question families ask. After exhausting myself each year attempting to please everyone, I wondered if gifts have to be something people choose. What's happened to "giving and receiving from the heart," regardless of the gift --appreciating that you received anything at all?...

Briefly...

Only half of the 420 Toybox bags are filled and funds for the holiday charity have run out, according to the Cape Girardeau Jaycees. At this time last year, more than 315 bags were filled. "I am sure a lot of money went to other needs and so I think people just aren't giving to organizations they are usually giving to because they gave so much to that need during that time," said Jaycees secretary Tracy Haggerty...

When it comes to decorating for the Christmas season, few people go all out the way Alvie and Gladys Baker do. Each year before Thanksgiving, the retired Scott City couple breaks out thousands of decorative Christmas pieces and fill every room of their home, even the bathroom, with holiday cheer. The process takes them six weeks to complete...