Stories from Saturday, March 24, 2007

The Discovery Playhouse in West Park Mall may soon be moving to a downtown location. Martha Brown, who sits on the Playhouse's board of directors, said the organization, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, has signed a lease agreement to move into the old Goddard Grocer Co. building at 101 William St. in Cape Girardeau...

After previously approving two tax cuts that would reduce state revenue by an estimated $460 million annually, the Missouri House next week will tackle a tax bill that would cut state and local sales taxes paid by businesses. A tax cut for senior citizens would exempt Social Security payments and some other retirement income from income tax. A tax cut for businesses would raise the threshold and lower the tax rate on the franchise tax, a levy on business assets. They await Senate action...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Police now say the latest sighting of two missing Perryville children was a false alarm.Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said Saturday that after investigating a report that Brandon Lundmark, 14, had been seen in Skinny's Diner in Miner, Mo., Wednesday, the lead turned out to be a dead end.Police say Brandon took his father's pickup truck, cash and an ATM card about midnight Monday and then left the area after picking up his 12-year-old girlfriend, Brianna Williams.Schaaf said he believes that the image of a boy captured on a New Madrid, Mo., truck stop security tape Wednesday is that of Brandon.. ...

For now criminal charges filed against former Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell will not affect a Southeast Missouri State University scholarship endowed in his name. Ferrell was indicted Feb. 23 for allegedly stealing funds from the "William Ferrell DARE and Crime Prevention Fund" by a Scott County grand jury. ...

When Missouri officials sought bids to provide for new quarters for two state agencies operating out of a building at Southern Expressway at South Sprigg Street, the owners of the Marquette Tower thought they had found a tenant for the Marquette Center on Fountain Street...

ORAN, Mo. -- Friday night, the Seyer family's wait was finally over. For weeks they'd been anticipating this night, when Amber Seyer would take the stage in the Miss USA pageant, representing Missouri among 51 contestants. Her aunt, Cindy Seyer, opened up her home to all the visitors who wanted to root Amber on during the pageant -- all of them sure that their Amber would go deep in the pageant, if not win. ...

The parents and widow of an Iraq war veteran from Cape Girardeau who was shot by Delaware police filed a wrongful death lawsuit Friday. On Nov. 6, Sgt. Derek Hale, 25, a decorated Marine who completed two tours of duty in Iraq, was shot and killed on the steps of a Wilmington, Del., home during a police drug raid. According to witness accounts, Hale had been Tasered three times, was incapacitated and did not resist arrest prior to the shooting...

An estimated 19,000 more Missourians a year would have access to need-based college scholarships under a plan touted by Gov. Matt Blunt during a visit to Southeast Missouri State University on Friday. "The new plan will have one simple formula," Blunt told a crowd of about 40 university and local officials, area legislators and Southeast students gathered in the lobby of the University Center. "It will be based on a family's ability to pay for college."...

n At 6:11 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1800 block of Perryville Road. n At 7:55 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3000 block of Themis Street. n At 8:42 p.m., emergency medical service in the 100 block of Bloomfield Street. n At 9:48 p.m., citizen assist in the 800 block of Pioneer Drive...

TV Guide, which has helped viewers navigate through thousands of TV shows for 53 years, now wants to do the same for Internet video. Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. will launch a test version next month of an online video search tool that allows viewers to find clips and full episodes of TV shows now being posted on the Web. A formal launch is planned for September...

Kimberly D. Kaelin, 40, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. She was born March 4, 1967, in St. Louis, daughter of Daniel and Mickey Mangan Harrison. She and Patrick "Pat" Kaelin were married Oct. 8, 1994. She and Pat had two sons, Lucas and Levi, whom Kim loved with all her heart...

Arrests; DWIs; Assault

Robert Michael Fann, 32, of Scott City was called home by his Lord, Monday, March 5, 2007. Robert was a loving father, brother, and son. He was loved by his friends and co-workers. Robert was born April 13, 1974, in Chaffee, Mo., son of Bruce and Paula K. McGuire White. He graduated from Chaffee High School in 1993. He was a welder by trade at CSX in Sikeston, Mo...

Teresa Diane Cantrell, 57, of Cape Girardeau died early morning Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was surrounded by friends and family. Diane was born Sept. 16, 1949, in Cape Girardeau to Francis "Bud" and Margery Street. She was raised in Sikeston, Mo., and moved to Cape Girardeau when she attended Southeast Missouri State University...

Rodney Lee West, 47, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at his home. He was born July 31, 1959, in Salinas, Calif., son of Maxamillion Lee and Patricia Leline King West. West was a retired chef from Chateau Girardeau. He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral and Knights of Columbus Council 5898...

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Gladys M. Carpenter, 82, of Bell City died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 31, 1924, in Treat, Ark., daughter of Louis H. and Norma Ross Gunter. She and Raymond C. Carpenter were married July 20, 1942, in Dover, Ark. He died March 2, 2005...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Helen Beatrice Jaynes, 80, of Sikeston died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 12, 1927, in Kennett, Mo., daughter of Frank and Gladys Scott Jones. She and Leslie Jaynes were married Feb. 4, 1944, in Manila, Ark. He died June 10, 1974...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Jimmie McGoy, 94, of Cairo died Friday, March 16, 2007, at her home. The funeral was held Friday at Holy City Church of God in Christ in Cairo, with Grady Johnson officiating. Burial was in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge, Ill...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Richard Jerome Grundy, 50, of Tamms died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at his home. He was born Aug. 15, 1956, in Tamms, son of Mattie A. Grundy and Kenneth R. Ford. He and Rose Marie Holder were married April 11, 1998, in Cairo, Ill. Grundy was a 1974 graduate of Egyptian High School and participated in sports. He holds the record of being the only African-American, All South Egyptian Conference baseball player ever selected from the high school in its 42-year history...

Ruth O. Moran, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Saxony Village. She was born May 13, 1923, in Bethany, Mo., daughter of Chas and Millie Yarnell Inks. She and Virgle Moran were married June 25, 1946, in Marthasville, Mo. Moran served in the Army Air Corps from May 16, 1944, to April 28, 1946...

Park assistant receives state recognition Marcia Stone, an administrative assistant for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, was awarded the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association's Support Staff Award at its annual state conference in Springfield. Stone has worked for the city for more than 30 years and provides administrative support to 10 full-time staff members, four advisory boards and committees and the Parks Development Foundation...

Franklin William Haupt, 76, of Millersville died Friday, March 23, 2007, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. He was born May 30, 1930, at Millersville, son of Robert Francis and Maggie Mae Moore Haupt. Haupt farmed at Millersville all his life and was a member of Caney Fork Baptist Church at Oak Ridge...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Samuel L. White, 63, of Mounds died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Massie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis team recorded its sixth straight win and improved to 3-0 this week at Hilton Head Island (S.C.) with an 8-1 win over Hope College on Friday. The Redhawks (9-5) swept the doubles competition for the third straight match. Bryce Kristal improved her singles winning streak to 10 matches, Drew Kristal won her eighth straight match, and Elise Nattier won her ninth straight singles match...

Tennessee-Martin put Southeast Missouri State into an early Ohio Valley Conference hole by handing the Redhawks three one-run losses during their opening OVC series last year. The Redhawks never really recovered, as they posted their worst OVC finish and worst OVC record under coach Mark Hogan, although they did squeeze into the six-team league tournament...

The St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau will hold a tribute to Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King at 6 p.m. Sunday. This will be the second annual event to honor the historical contributions Parks and King have made as American women organized by Debra Mitchell-Braxton, who helps organize Cape Girardeau's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration events...

WASHINGTON -- The former top aide to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales agreed Friday to testify at a Senate inquiry next week into the firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year. Kyle Sampson, who resigned last week amid the furor over the dismissals, will appear Thursday at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, his attorney said. ...

WASHINGTON -- A sharply divided House voted Friday to order President Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq next year, a victory for Democrats in an epic war-powers struggle and Congress' boldest challenge yet to the administration's policy. Just over an hour later, an angry Bush accused Democrats of staging nothing more than political theater and said that if the spending bill is not approved and signed into law by April 15, troops and their families "will face significant disruptions.". ...

WASHINGTON -- A Pentagon investigation will recommend that nine officers, including up to four generals, be held accountable for missteps in the aftermath of the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan, senior defense officials said Friday...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said Friday another possible sighting of two missing Perryville children was reported at Skinny's Diner in Miner, Mo., Wednesday. "We're working with the highway patrol down there," he said. "Witnesses said they had seen a boy hanging around, maybe getting something to eat."...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Scientists have struggled for years to figure out when the next big earthquake might strike the central United States. Now a geologist from Northwestern University believes he has evidence that the New Madrid Fault, at the center of the country's most active seismic zone east of the Rockies, is "cold and dying."...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Naval forces of Iran's hardline Revolutionary Guards captured 15 British sailors and marines at gunpoint Friday in the Persian Gulf -- an audacious move coming during heightened tensions between the West and Iran. U.S. and British officials said a boarding party from the frigate HMS Cornwall was seized about 10:30 a.m. during a routine inspection of a merchant ship inside Iraqi territorial waters near the disputed Shatt al-Arab waterway...

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's deputy prime minister, a Sunni who crossed the country's sectarian divide to join the Shiite-led government, was wounded Friday in a suicide bombing at a mosque in the courtyard of his home. Eight people were killed, including one of his advisers, police said...

PARIS -- The saucer-shaped object is said to have touched down in the south of France and then zoomed off. It left behind scorch marks and that haunting age-old question: Are we alone? This is just one of the cases from France's secret "X-Files" -- some 100,000 documents on supposed UFOs and sightings of other unexplained phenomena that the French space agency is publishing on the Internet...

OMAHA, Neb. -- A recording industry group that has been offering settlements to college students suspected of sharing music online says more than a quarter of the alleged music pirates have accepted the offer. The Recording Industry Association of America sent letters offering discounted settlements to 400 computer users at 13 universities in late February. Another batch was sent out this week...

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rat poison was found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists said Friday they still don't know how it got there and predicted more animal deaths would be linked to it. Also Friday, the company that produced the food expanded its recall to include all 95 brands of the "cuts and gravy" style food, regardless of when they were produced...

Briefly Lenten dinner series presented Wednesday First Presbyterian Church at Broadway and Lorimier Street continues its Lenten celebration with Wednesday evening service following a dinner. This year's theme of Lent is "The People of the Passion." Wednesday's dinner is chicken and dumplings with dessert at 5:45 p.m. Make dinner reservations by calling the church office at 335-2579. Meditation is at 6:30 p.m. on "Joseph of Arimathea" by Lewis Bock...

In his song "Wonderful World" the late Sam Cooke admitted he didn't know much about history or biology. Too bad. Our history illuminates our future, while scientific discoveries in many ways seem to determine it. Splitting the atom, the development of television, the promise of gene therapies all affect modern life in innumerable ways, and they are just a handful of the many scientific discoveries that do. Every state in the union is trying to incubate bioscience businesses...

Immoral socks; Stealing flowers; Hurting business; Trash pickup; Thanks for help; It's the lying; Tornado sirens; Sharing good news; Great dance; Suspicious deal; Junk cars; Pet responsibility; News sources; Jackson Manor; Thrift supervision?; Pay the tuition; Which party?; Delayed mail; Sahara's story; Potential accident; Creating havoc

So what's the glory in living? Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore? And if love never lasts forever Tell me, what's forever for? -- Michael Martin Murphey It is more than a bit facetious to say that forever is a long time...

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau stands at 34.2 feet, headed for a 35.5-foot crest on Saturday, but there is no expectation of flooding; 32 feet is considered flood stage on the Cape Girardeau gauge. Since a state law allowing bingo to be played by certain organizations went into effect Sept. 28, three Cape Girardeau organizations have been licensed to conduct the game: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, its women's auxiliary and the Knights of Columbus Council 1111...

Illness and bereavement can bring on a need for warmth and comfort. That need is being fulfilled through a prayer shawl ministry. At Maple United Methodist Church a shawl ministry was born two years ago when member Mary Spell, during story time with children in a morning service, told how she was given a prayer shawl to remind her and her family of God's love and care when her daughter Jennifer was ill...

The winner of the Noon Optimist Girls Soccer Tournament will not come from the four area squads, as St. Vincent and Central dropped semifinal games Friday at Central. St. Vincent fell to Marion (Ill.) 3-1, while Central dropped a 1-0 decision to Sikeston...

By Catherine L. Hanaway The growing number of online sexual-exploitation crimes against children is a threat to all our children. Project Safe Childhood is dedicated both to prosecuting and punishing these offenders and to educating children and parents about the dangers...