Stories from Sunday, November 26, 2006

Editors note: This is the first in a series of profiles for the 2006 Toybox and Christmas for the Elderly campaigns. By Rudi Keller Southeast Missourian When Christina Baer delivered toys to brighten the Christmas of children in need in 2003, she became enchanted with the Toybox program and determined to do more. ...

Clients of lawyer John Heisserer won't have their cases heard by Circuit Judge Ben Lewis, who defeated Heisserer in a closely fought judicial contest. The race, the closest partisan contest on the local ballot, featured numerous lawyers helping Heisserer, a Democrat, as he raised almost $70,000 in his bid to unseat Lewis, a Republican who took no money from area lawyers but accepted campaign help from Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. ...

Matthew Piazzi is a fixture of daytime television. And nighttime television. In fact, Piazzi is a fixture on pretty much all kinds of television -- the 29-year-old can be found on TV around the clock and on almost every station. But people aren't likely to recognize his face -- not yet, anyway. But the aspiring actor -- and son of Cape Girardeau native and Southeast Missouri State University teacher Judith Farris -- is on TV all the time...

Thanksgiving Day. Hutson Furniture Co. unveils its annual animated Christmas window; the display depicts downtown Cape Girardeau, complete with backdrops of stores and restaurants, with Santa Claus arriving in a shiny red sports car. CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee Mayor Robert H. Capshaw has announced he will seek the Democratic nomination as 160th District state representative, a seat now held by Betty C. Hearnes of Charleston, Mo...

Jennifer Glueck and Christopher Hart were married Oct. 7, 2006, in Troy, Mo. The Rev. Glenn Davis performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Tony and Carol Glueck of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Roger and Terry Carriker of Troy, and the late Greg Hart...

Carolyn and Ronnie Bowers of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Bridgette Denise Scroggins, to Chad Michael Schlosser, both of Scott City. He is the son of Derhonda Gosche of Kelso, Mo., and Dale Schlosser of Scott City. Scroggins is a 2001 graduate of Jackson High School, and attended Southeast Missouri State University. She is a patient services administrator at Cape Prosthetics-Orthotics...

St. Mary's Cathedral was the setting April 29, 2006, for the wedding of Olivia Marie Beel and Stanley Keith Hancock. The Rev. Thomas Kiefer performed the ceremony. Acolyte was the Rev. William Hennecke Jr., cousin of the bride. Reader was Shelley Frank of Cape Girardeau, cousin of the bride. Vocalists were Krista Keesee and Leann Hendrix...

Melissa T. Lampe and David G. Ham were married Aug. 26, 2006, at St. Simon the Apostle Church in St. Louis. The Rev. Edmond Fitzgibbon performed the ceremony. Pianist was Barbara Roddy of St. Louis. George and Pat Lampe of St. Louis are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Jim and Beth Ham of Cape Girardeau...

Danielle Renee Hennecke and Gary Lynn Poyner Jr. were married July 29, 2006, at St. Mary's Cathedral. Mass celebrants were the Revs. Thomas Kiefer and William Hennecke, brother of the bride. Con-celebrants were the Revs. Patrick Nwokoye, Scott Sunnenberg, Randy Tochtrop and David Coon...

Melanie Ann Beel and Gregory Allan Peters were married June 3, 2006, at Immaculate Conception Church in Loose Creek, Mo. Celebrant was the Rev. I.C. Medina. Acolyte was William Hennecke Jr., cousin of the bride. Eucharistic ministers were Ruthie Verslues, aunt of the groom, and Jason and Becky Boyce. Lectors were Danielle Hennecke, cousin of the bride; Jack Cronhardt, uncle of the groom; and Bethany Blattel, cousin of the bride...

Krista Kathleen Olson and Peter Lowell Weeks exchanged vows Aug. 5, 2006, at Cape Bible Chapel. Dan Greene performed the ceremony. Pianist was Shane Steck, guitarist was Lowell Weeks, and vocalists were Becky, Erica and Lowell Weeks. The bride is the daughter of Dr. Gary and Cindy Olson of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Lowell and Lynda Weeks of Syracuse, N.Y...

Leola Catherine Michelle Austin and Michael Shayne Taylor exchanged vows Nov. 11, 2006, at Chamber Gardens. The Rev. Ronnie Lear performed the ceremony. Gordon and Shelia Wright of Cape Girardeau are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Mac and Ann Taylor of Mayfield, Ky...

Rebecca Ann Mattes and Kerry Timothy White were united in marriage July 15, 2006, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. J. Friedel performed the ceremony. Lectors were Donna Moore of Higganum, Conn., sister of the groom; Bernard White of North Branford, Conn., brother of the groom; and Wayne Mattes of Cape Girardeau, father of the bride. Soloists were Sarah Uptmor and Alan Bruns of Cape Girardeau, and musicians were Sara Edgerton, Cheryl Oberhaus and Paul Thompson of Cape Girardeau...

Juliana Wenzel Green and James Frederick Thurman were married July 12, 2006, at Kapalua Bay, Hawaii. The Rev. Jesse Nakooka performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Karl and Julie Harrison of Paducah, Ky., and the late Donald Green. The groom is the son of Sheryl Thurman of Cape Girardeau, and the late James L. Thurman...

Emma Mary Beel and Shawn Albert Tuthill were married Oct. 7, 2006, at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Patrick Nwokoye performed the ceremony. Deacon was the Rev. William Hennecke Jr., cousin of the bride. Lector was Debbie Frank of Cape Girardeau, godmother of the bride. Mass servers were Austin and Alex Bradshaw. Music was by St. Mary's Youth Group and Leann Hendrix of Cape Girardeau...

Mike and Debbie Sprouse of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Sprouse, to Zachary Walker. He is the son of Jim and Becky Walker of Ashland, Mo. Sprouse is a 1999 graduate of Central High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in psychology and criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State University in 2003. ...

John and Judy Antone of St. Louis announce the engagement of their daughter, M. Michele Antone, to Cory R. Gooch, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Ronnie and Linda Gooch of Portageville, Mo. Antone received a bachelor's degree in general studies from Southeast Missouri State University in 2002. She is a consultant with Hawk iSolutions Group Inc...

Glenn McCallister of Jackson announces the engagement of his daughter, Sara LeAn McCallister, to Nathaniel Allen Drew. He is the son of Mike and Pam Drew of Carbondale, Ill. McCallister is also the daughter of the late Peggy McCallister. McCallister is a 1999 graduate of Jackson High School. ...

Don and Julie Sappington of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy Elizabeth Sappington, to Jesse Dean Houseman. He is the son of Dean and Kim Houseman of Millersville. Sappington is a 2005 graduate of Jackson High School. She expects to receive a degree in public relations from Southeast Missouri State University in 2007...

Robert and Donna Komorech of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Marie Komorech, to Elliott James Swoboda. He is the son of Stuart and Kathy Swoboda of Cape Girardeau. Komorech is a 2002 graduate of Central High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in 2006. She is employed in human resources department of MidAmerica Hotels Corp., Drury Restaurants...

Darlene Jennifer Annette Helderman and Danny Ray McMillan exchanged vows Sept. 9, 2006, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, Mo. The Rev. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Organist was Betty Ressel and vocalist was Krista Keesee. The bride is the daughter of Darrell and Kitrina Helderman of Jackson. The groom is the son of Dennis and Debora McMillan and Mary and Jeff Hency, all of Scott City...

Boy makes 49 calls to 911 from Texas school ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Police in this Austin suburb were stumped for hours by the 49 emergency calls that kept coming in from an unregistered cell phone. The caller would say nothing before hanging up, sometimes after a brief giggle. ...

THEBES, Ill. -- Bobbie B. Simpson Shafer, 69, of Thebes died Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Shafer was born Sept. 24, 1937, at the Diswood community in Alexander County, Ill., daughter of the late Walter Thomas and Lena Hewitt Simpson...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Charley Logan, 83, of Villa Ridge, formerly of Olive Branch, Ill., died Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006, at his home. Logan was born March 29, 1923, at Cary, Ky., son of Juluis and Mollie Pilkington Logan. Logan retired from the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant...

Shirley Ann Knight, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, at Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 31, 1943, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Jesse Woodrow and Kirllian Putz Perry. She married George F. Knight. He died Nov. 2, 2002...

Helen M. Meyer, 85 years of age, died Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, at her home in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 30, 1921, in Black Oak, Ark., the daughter of Jean Giroir and Lilly May Nicholas Giroir. She married Thomas L. Meyer, her partner and best friend of over 65 years, on May 8, 1941...

Funeral services for Mr. Donald VandeVen, 62, of St. Joseph, La., will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006, at 10 a.m., with Father Ferry D'Cruz and Father Michael officiating. Interment will follow at Legion Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Home in Ferriday, La...

Mildred L. Cobble, age 88, formerly of Jackson, passed away Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 17, 1918, in Marston, Mo. daughter of the late Marvin and Josephine Simmons Crowe. On Oct. 1, 1940, she married James W. Cobble at Hayti, Mo. He died Jan. 6, 1985...

Cape Girardeau; Jackson

Cape Girardeau: DWI; Assault; Property damage; Miscellaneous

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- The U.S.-backed government on Saturday approved an international tribunal for suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, overriding the objections of Hezbollah amid a political crisis that threatens to spin Lebanon into violence...

JERUSALEM -- Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire Saturday to end a five-month Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into the Jewish state -- a major development that could lead to the resumption of long-stalled peace talks...

MASERU, Lesotho -- A Dutch aid worker with the Clinton Foundation was shot to death at the house of Lesotho's trade and industry minister, police said Saturday. Samuella Jacobina Verwey, 36, her husband and two American aid workers arrived late Friday at Minister Mpho Malie's house. As they left the car, heavy gunfire erupted, police spokesman Pheelo Mphana said...

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- If Turkish security authorities needed a reminder of the challenge posed by Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey this week, Ibrahim Ak delivered it when he fired a pistol outside the Italian consulate in Istanbul and shouted that he wanted to strangle the pope with his bare hands...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Vice President Dick Cheney sought Saudi help on Saturday in dealing with Iraq's spiraling violence and other regional trouble spots where U.S. policy is on the line: Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Cheney's visit with King Abdullah was brief, lasting only a few hours before he flew back to Washington, but it underlined the two allies' concerns over upheavals across the Middle East, which many Arabs blame on U.S. policies...

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- The Protestant extremist who triggered a panicked evacuation of the Northern Ireland Assembly was charged Saturday with attempting to murder four people, including Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Michael Stone, who was tackled by unarmed guards Friday at the entrance to Stormont Parliamentary Building, was arraigned in Belfast Magistrates Court on five charges of attempted murder. ...

WASHINGTON -- The CIA has scrapped its ho-hum test that steered job applicants toward mysterious careers and devised one that's cloaked in jest. Invisibility or ESP? Jet pack or amphibious sports car? Walk the Great Wall of China or sip champagne at a New York gala?...

Shannon Baker has been ticketed countless times for parking violations in her undergraduate and graduate career at Southeast Missouri State University, resulting in fines totaling nearly $2,300. Baker, who is from St. Louis and lives in Cape Girardeau, said the cost doesn't include the hundreds of dollars she has paid in permits to park legally on campus over the years...

Family holiday memories are made at Meier Horse Shoe Pines, a Jackson tree farm on County Road 330, off Route PP. Teresa Meier believes the fun is in seeing the children who came with their parents come back with their own children. "One family uses their own hatchet to cut their tree for about six years now. They leave it here from year to year."...

All Amber Bertrand wants under the Christmas tree is a black and tan Chihuahua. The Cape Girardeau woman hopes her boyfriend (or a friend) will surprise her with the cute and cuddly dog for Christmas this year. "I want one because they are so cute. If I got one, I would take him everywhere with me, and then I'd take him to doggie day care when I go to work. I would name him Trigger," Bertrand said...

Downtown Cape Girardeau's revitalization process, which has made amazing gains in recent years, is about to be enhanced by the completion of two major projects, the new federal courthouse next to City Hall, and Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus, which will house the university's school for performing and visions arts...

To the editor: The Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau Area invites friends of Zonta to join in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign 2006 observed Nov. 25 through Dec. 10. This year's campaign emphasizes the connections between violence against women and women's health and the detrimental consequences violence against women has on the well-being of the world as a whole...

To the editor: While in your fair city I picked up a brochure about Rush Limbaugh published by your Convention and Visitors Bureau. I am not sure who pays for it. Considering Limbaugh's political agenda, I would assume it is not paid for with tax dollars...

To the editor: Thank you for publishing John L. Cook's recent letter to the editor. His facetious rant illustrates his ignorance. Mr. Cook declares a relationship between human genome research, cloning and (by implication) stem-cell research. These are complicated, distinct scientific endeavors. Analogies such as his are simplistic and insensitive...

Self-defense; Legal to carry; Teacher's time; Crossed cultures; Numbers don't match; Legal hunting; Taking time; Insufferable posturing; No clue; Power trip; Not history; Go into the world; Welfare abuse; No refreshing

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department on Saturday asked the Supreme Court to refrain from stepping into another First Amendment battle featuring federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and The New York Times. The case involves a leak probe by Fitzgerald to track down the confidential sources of Times reporters Judith Miller and Philip Shenon for stories in 2001. ...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson opened and closed the 2006 season on top, for very different reasons. The year began with the controversial suspension of his crew chief, who was caught cheating before the Daytona 500 and kicked out of the garage for four weeks. It ended with Johnson and Chad Knaus hoisting the Nextel Cup trophy as the championship winning team...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California's youthful Trojans didn't need any last-second heroics to beat Notre Dame this year. They had too much speed, too much defense, and too much Dwayne Jarrett. John David Booty passed for 265 yards and three touchdowns to Jarrett, USC did an exceptional job containing Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, and the Trojans topped the Fighting Irish 44-24 Saturday night...

IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells still isn't impressed with everything Tony Romo does. Even after Romo threw for 306 yards and matched a team record with five touchdowns to lead the Dallas Cowboys to their third straight victory, Parcells talked first about the scoring pass the NFL's top-rated quarterback missed Thanksgiving Day...

OWENSBORO, Ky. -- In the mood for a good mystery? How about 12 of them? Organizers for the first International Mystery Writers' Festival will showcase 12 works June 12-17 in Owensboro. Some of the genre's key players, Ira Levin, Sue Grafton and Angela Lansbury, are expected to attend the event, dubbed, "Discovering New Mysteries," at Owensboro's RiverPark Center, the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reported...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For the second straight week, Missouri had a controversial call go the other way. This time, there was plenty of time to shake off the adversity. Chase Daniel threw for a career-best 356 yards and four touchdowns, and led a surge after a fifth TD was negated in Missouri's 42-17 victory over Kansas on Saturday...

A selection of Cape Girardeau homeowners have been decorating their homes for the annual Holiday Home Tour on Saturday. The tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The six decorated homes will have a hostess to answer questions and discuss the home. Funds from the tour benefit the local chapter of the Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri, a not-for-profit social services agency...

ST. LOUIS -- Yankic Perreault scored his seventh goal in eight games to lead the Phoenix Coyotes to a 2-1 victory over St. Louis on Saturday night. Curtis Joseph handled a 5-on-3 opportunity for St. Louis about midway through the third period and stopped 25 shots in his sixth victory of the year...

Jackson senior Rachel Kahle showed her versatility on the track last year by qualifying for the Class 4 state meet in four individual events. Kahle earned all-state honors with sixth-place finishes in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and she competed in the long jump and triple jump as well. Last year was the first year Kahle had competed in the jumping events...

She will bid for Paralympic world championshipsnext month in South Africa. By Toby Carrig Southeast Missourian Susan Beth Scott ate her Thanksgiving dinner in a Chicago airport, between flights, away from family and home. But Thursday marked the beginning of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for the 14-year-old Central freshman...

The Southeast Missouri State football team finished coach Tony Samuel's first season on a down note when Tennessee Tech rallied from a 29-6 second-half deficit to win 32-29 last weekend at Houck Stadium. But everything considered, I thought Samuel's debut campaign in Cape Girardeau went pretty decent, even though records of 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the OVC probably don't seem like much...

Bell City defeated Byhalia (Miss.) 67-62 on Saturday night in its second game in two days at the season-opening Riverbend Classic hosted by New Madrid County Central. The Cubs, Class 1 runner-up last year, had three players in double figures. Will Bogan scored 23 points, Phillip Gross added 19 and Nick Niemczyk scored 17. Gross and Niemczyk each hit a 3-pointer...