Stories from Saturday, January 17, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state's pool of money available to help struggling Missourians pay their winter heating bills will be increased by $8.5 million, Gov. Jay Nixon's office said Friday. The additional money will be taken from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and would otherwise have gone into a reserve fund, Nixon's office said...

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats' version of the $825 billion recession rescue package would end billions of dollars in tax breaks the Bush administration quietly gave to banks last fall. Already almost exclusive beneficiaries of a $700 billion Wall Street bailout, banks are largely left out of the House stimulus package that president-elect Barack Obama wants passed quickly through Congress. ...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Earthquake researchers say a small quake occurred Friday in West Tennessee but no damages from it were reported. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 40 miles north of Memphis and measured a 2.8-magnitude. Such a magnitude is considered barely strong enough to be felt on the earth's surface and too weak to cause serious damage...

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- Is there a ghost of a chance that the renewed relationship between live Izzie and dead Denny on "Grey's Anatomy" makes sense? Yes, according to ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson. "In terms of the ghost stuff, it's not a ghost, which you will learn," McPherson told a meeting of the Television Critics Association on Friday...

NEW YORK -- Americans believe Barack Obama is on track to succeed and are optimistic he can help revive the struggling economy, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. Public expectations for his performance in office far exceed those for any president in a generation...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Travis L. Gipson, 23, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. n Joy A. Lesar, 38, 325 N. Sprigg St., was arrested on suspicion of stealing...

CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief defense attorney said Friday he will not represent the governor at his Senate impeachment trial but still will defend him on criminal charges. Defense attorney Edward M. Genson said in a telephone interview that the decision came "a few days ago" but he declined to say why, or when he discussed it with Blagojevich...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Housing Authority is once again extending a helping hand to the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority. The Housing Authority board presented a donation of almost $100,000 to the LCRA on Thursday. "It's right at $98,000," said Bill Mitchell, chairman of the Sikeston Housing Authority's board. "This is money that we over the years have been able to accumulate due to the sound financial management that the Housing Authority has been operated under."...

State Rep. Clint Tracy, R-Cape Girardeau, was assigned seats on five Missouri House committees this week by House Speaker Ron Richard. Tracy, a first-term lawmaker, will be a member of the Appropriations for Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Ways and Means Committee and the Special Committee on Emerging Issues in Animal Agriculture. ...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israel said it was approaching the "endgame" of its three-week offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers and scheduled a Security Cabinet vote today on a truce proposed by Egypt. Under the cease-fire plan, fighting would stop immediately for 10 days, but Israeli forces would initially remain in Gaza and the border crossings into the territory would remain closed until security arrangements are made to ensure Hamas militants do not rearm...

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Barack Obama is the new face of America, and his likeness will be represented in force during this year's bawdy Carnival bacchanalia. Plastic replicas of the U.S. president-elect's face are the top-selling masks this year, said Olga Gibert Valles, owner of one of Rio's oldest Carnival costume producers...

At the beginning of 1945, the Soviet Red Army was massing more than 2 million men and 4,500 tanks in Poland for the offensive that would take them to the steps of the Reichstag in Berlin, the seat of German Nazi power. The German Wehrmacht, thwarted in its winter offensive in the Ardennes Forest known as the Battle of the Bulge, was putting young boys and old men into fighting units. They were no match for the veteran Russian troops that were threatening the borders of Hitler's Third Reich...

25 years ago: Jan. 17, 1984 ResortAir, a St. Louis-based regional airline, could begin flights at Cape Girardeau next week if a lease agreement with the city for terminal space at the municipal airport can be concluded by Friday; ResortAir plans to provide nonstop flights between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis...

NEW YORK -- Federal investigators said both engines of the US Airways jetliner that ditched into the Hudson River were missing Friday as reports emerged that the pilot who safely landed the aircraft had considered an emergency landing at two airports...

Rose Lee Hawk, 69, of Cape Girardeau went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. She passed away at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 2, 1940, in Bell City, Mo., daughter of Charles and Grace Widner Hager. She and Lester Hawk were married May 10, 1957, in Rochester, N.Y. He preceded her in death...

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team no longer can have a perfect homestand. But the Redhawks want to make sure they don't end up with a losing one. Southeast closes out a three-game run at the Show Me Center today at 5:30 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky...

Joyce Elwood Stovall, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at the Lutheran Home. He was born May 21, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, son of Emry Earl and Zula Beatrice Grayum Stovall. Stovall had been a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Atlanta. He played football and was a 1945 graduate of Central High School. He also played for the Cape Girardeau American Legion baseball team. He attended Southeast Missouri State University and graduated from the University of Missouri...

Southeast Missourian ST. LOUIS -- A Cape Girardeau woman was fatally struck by a car on Interstate 55 Thursday evening. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Melena Z. Broglin, 31, ran into the path of a 1990 Jeep Wrangler driven by Richard L. Hearst, 47, of Green Park, Mo., around 9:20 p.m. The Wrangler struck Broglin, who was pronounced dead on the scene at 9:30 p.m...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Sharlyn Kay McAllister, 61, of Oak Park, Mich., formerly of Olive Branch, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at her home. She was born May 9, 1947, in Cairo, Ill., to the Rev. James Robert and Lorene Miller McAllister. McAllister graduated from Amundson-Mayfair School of Nursing in Chicago in 1969. She was a registered nurse...

Mary Hargiss, 96, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the chapel. Burial will be in Bellerive Cemetery in Creve Coeur, Mo...

A story in Friday's edition should have stated that Southeast Missouri State University foundation will make its decision on bidding on the Cape Girardeau license office at its meeting Jan. 23.

Few of us set out to be on the leading edge of world-changing events. Sure, we want our lives to matter, but given the choice between being an agent of global change or raising children and surrounding oneself with grandchildren, most of us would choose the latter...

Scott County man killed by rolling truck MORLEY, Mo. -- A Morley man was killed Friday when his truck rolled over him outside his home, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter. Keith Taylor, 56, had exited the truck, which has a manual transmission, while it was parked on a small ridge, Walter said. ...

Inez Margaret Moll, 89, of Scott City died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 23, 1919, at Kelso, Mo., daughter of Joseph and C. Alvina Lux Ressel. She and Albert H. Moll were married Nov. 29, 1941, at Kelso. He died Dec. 26, 1993...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday: n At 4:28 p.m., emergency medical service in the 600 block of Perry Avenue. n At 5:26 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1400 block of Randol Avenue. n At 6:51 p.m., a citizen assist in the 2700 block of Hawthorne Road...

WYATT, Mo. -- Robert Ray "Bob" Nally, 70, a resident of Wyatt, died at 9:27 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2009 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 11, 1938, in State Park Place, Ill., to the late William Robert and Doris Nell Campbell Nally. He grew up around Greenville, Ill., then moved to a farm near Wyatt in Southeast Missouri...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Miserable, lung-burning, face-numbing temperatures are one thing in the Midwest and Northeast. But the Deep South? Temperatures plummeted Friday across the Midwest and eastern U.S., and delivered a stinging slap to Southerners unaccustomed to the frigid weather. Schools were closed in a dozen states and homeless shelters were overcrowded. Those that did venture outside bundled up and made quick trips...

Central boys basketball coach Drew Church had reason to be happy with his team's defensive play in Friday's SEMO Conference opener against New Madrid County Central. He wasn't even too disappointed with the offense despite a 33-28 loss to the visiting Eagles...

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A hearing has been scheduled in Minnesota next week on Al Franken's request to have a lawsuit dismissed in his bid for the Senate. If the Democrat isn't able to get the lawsuit by Republican Norm Coleman dismissed, a trial could start Jan. 26...

"Oh God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears, the world is mine. With feet to take me where I'd go. With eyes to see the sunset's glow. With ears to hear what I'd know. Oh God, forgive me when I whine. I've been blessed indeed; the world is mine." (Red Foley)...

Three Day of Service events are planned for Monday. Michelle Obama has asked the nation to use Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a time to give back to the community in some way. The Rev. Henry L. Clark Jr., pastor of the Joyful Praise Church of God, 1507 S. Sprigg St., has planned a unity walk...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Roger Dale Sutterer, 58, of Perryville died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at his home. He was born July 31, 1950, at Crosstown, Mo., son of Otto Thomas and Verda LaVerne Sandlin Sutterer. He and Debbie Brigman were married May 18, 1974. Sutterer was a former service station manager. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Crosstown...

The members of the Notre Dame student section broke out the "Game over" chant just two minutes into their school's contest against rival Jackson on Friday night. The score was 8-0 at that point. Notre Dame just kept pouring it on from there to make homecoming not sweet at all for the Indians...

ST. LOUIS -- Airport officials in Missouri say precautions are in place to protect planes from birds -- and deer, coyotes, even mice. A US Airways jet made an emergency landing Thursday on the Hudson River in New York -- after the jetliner struck a flock of birds minutes earlier during takeoff at LaGuardia Airport. Miraculously, everyone on board survived...

Trinity Lutheran Church will honor the Rev. Dr. Ronald R. Feuerhahn and hold a fundraiser in his name Jan. 24 and 25. Feuerhahn was baptized, confirmed and ordained at the church and graduated from the church's school. He later received his doctorate degree from Cambridge University in England before beginning 21 years of service on the faculty of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- John Paul VanGennip, 94, of Advance died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at Monticello House in Jackson. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with Morgan Funeral Home of Advance.

PEORIA, Ill. -- Velma Lucille Johnson Sharp, 83, of Peoria, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 at Proctor Hospital in Peoria. She was born Nov. 16, 1925, in Reynoldsville, Ill., the daughter of Henry and Stella May Hawkins Johnson. She married Arthur Sharp. He died in December 1993...

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans have blocked a bill that would delay the nationwide switch from analog to digital television broadcasts until June 12. But Democrats say they will try again to pass the measure next week. The bill was defeated even after president-elect Barack Obama on Friday urged Congress to postpone the Feb. ...

SPECIAL EVENTS Christian open mic night Red Star Baptist Church will host this event. When: 6 p.m. today Where: 1301 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau Special ladies service Stella Taylor will be the guest speaker at this service for all faiths at New Life Gospel Center...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Earthquake researchers say a small quake occurred Friday in West Tennessee but no damages from it were reported. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 40 miles north of Memphis and measured a 2.8-magnitude. Such a magnitude is considered barely strong enough to be felt on the earth's surface and too weak to cause serious damage. ...

A renowned evangelical artist who paints a full portrait of Jesus Christ in less than 20 minutes will make two appearances Sunday morning at CrossRoads Fellowship in Jackson. Known as the Jesus Painter, Mike Lewis has traveled throughout the United States and the world proclaiming the gospel of Christ on stage through his artwork during a song. ...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Keith Taylor, 56, of Morley, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, in a truck accident outside his home. He was born Sept. 12, 1952, at Parma, Mo., the son of C.B. and Hazel Lee Hensley Taylor Sr. Taylor was a mechanic at Heartland Application in Grant City, Mo. He was a member of Morley Baptist Church...

Tonight marks the final chance for Southeast Missouri State to salvage something from its four-game homestand. The Redhawks will need to slow down Eastern Kentucky's prolific long-range shooting attack in order to pull it off. Southeast and EKU square off in a 7:45 p.m. tipoff at the Show Me Center...

ANNA, Ill. -- Gary Evans, 68, of Anna died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at City Care Center. Crain Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Marvin T. Fiehler, 72, of Grand Island died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at Golden Living Center at Lakeview, Neb. Fiehler was born March 4, 1936, at Frohna, Mo., son of George and Oneida Mangels Fiehler. Fiehler was raised and received his education in Missouri. ...

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — June Kang, 65, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was killed in a skiing accident in Vail, Colo. Friday. According to a story in the Vail Daily, Kang was a popular woman in the tight-knit community. ...