Stories from Thursday, June 18, 2009

Former Leopold volleyball player Casey Bucher has accepted a scholarship to play at Murray State of the Ohio Valley Conference this fall. Bucher chose Murray State primarily for academic reasons as the school offers her major -- engineering graphics and design...

A convicted sex offender from Advance, Mo., was arrested after two women reported a flasher near Fruitland. Steven C. Rendleman, 49, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor sexual misconduct and driving while suspended after Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department deputies confronted him about his conduct...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man is recovering at home today from the extensive facial injuries he suffered in a boating accident on Current River. Hershel "Butch" Knuckles, 49, was released Tuesday from Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, where he was taken after he was injured when he was struck by a limb hanging over the water...

A train struck a car that became disabled while crossing the tracks early Wednesday morning near Randles in Cape Girardeau County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Hannah Wrather of Benton, Mo., escaped unhurt before the Union Pacific train struck her vehicle...

The Southeast Missouri Soccer Club would like to recognize the recent 2nd place finish of the under 14 boys soccer team, in the Coca Cola Classic Tournament, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Congratulations on a great Tournament and a great spring season...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- A car crashed into a convenience store in Chaffee -- the Chaffee One Stop -- this morning. No details are available at this time, but the Southeast Missourian is seeking more information. Check back soon for details. Pertinent address:...

NEW MADRID COUNTY, Mo. - A Sikeston, Mo., woman was injured in a motor vehicle accident on US 61 Wednesday evening, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Tyesha S. Hudson, 18, was driving her 1989 Ford pickup northbound on US 61 four miles north of New Madrid when her front tire failed around 5:30 p.m. The vehicle then traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree...

Two people were injured Wednesday when a one-gallon container of drain cleaner holding concentrated sulfuric acid spilled in the parking lot of the Gordonville Grill. One person was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center by private vehicle before emergency crews reached the spill, treated and released. The other injured person was treated at the scene by the Gordonville Fire Protection District and refused hospital transport...

Addison 11 months and Magnum 6 years old have a bond we can't deny. Magnum follows Addison where ever she goes!!!Buddies for life!!

Coke is 12 1/2 years old and you can tell by this pic he is really a laid back guy!!! I love this little guy and he knows me as Grandma!!!LOL

Garet is taking a break on the bench while enjoying the country view!!!!

During the Friday June 12, 2009 Board of Aldermen Meeting, the Marble Hill City Council voted to raise trash fees, park fees, passed an ordinance against "political profiling" and discussed the raising of water and sewer rates and proposed an "adopt a block" program to help clean up the town...

Hanover Lutheran Church, known for its incredible bi-annual sausage supper is getting ready to celebrate something entirely different. They will be installing a new pastor on this July 4th weekend. Their new pastor, Rev. Tony Kobak is hailing from Fort Worth, Texas...

Rob Friedrich looks at his yard as one big sculpture or installation piece. You have to walk through it to get the full effect and every glance reveals something new. Those "new" pieces, though, are usually rusted scrap metal he found at the recycle yard or stone pieces he's hauled back from his grandfather's old farm in Green's Ferry to his family's home on Hope Street in Jackson...

Everyone deserves art. The SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence aims to achieve that with the annual Arts for All Festival, a six-hour event where families of both disabled and nondisabled children are invited to create art through the use of adaptive equipment...

The week's entertainment options.

MOSCOW -- Russia and China urged North Korea on Wednesday to return to the negotiating table on the fate of its rogue nuclear programs -- an unusual joint appeal from two Security Council members who have resisted more punitive U.S. measures against Pyongyang...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran accused the United States on Wednesday of "intolerable" meddling in its internal affairs, alleging for the first time that Washington has fueled a bitter postelection dispute. Opposition supporters marched in huge numbers through Tehran's streets for a third straight day to protest the outcome of the balloting...

SAO PAULO -- Autopsies have revealed fractures in the legs, hips and arms of Air France disaster victims, injuries that -- coupled with the large pieces of wreckage pulled from the Atlantic -- strongly suggest the plane broke up in the air, experts said Wednesday...

A nontraditional parade will wind through downtown Cape Girardeau on Sunday. The typical floats and candy throwing will be replaced with skateboarders and their message, said Josh Dannenmueller, president of the Cape Girardeau Skate Park Association...

25 years ago: June 18, 1984 JoAnne Meyer, former recreation director of the Cape Girardeau VIP Industries, has been named to replace Pat Kinder as the new Scott City Parks and Recreation director. Larry Essner, senior vice president at Centerre Bank, is installed as the new chairman of the Cape County Chapter of the American Red Cross; he succeeds Harry Rediger...

The Missouri Department of Transportation will close Route B in Bollinger County from Highway 72 to Bollinger County Road 366 for about six weeks to replace a bridge over Little Muddy Creek. The bridge replacement, part of the state's "Safe and Sound" bridge upgrade program, will begin June 29. The road will be closed throughout the construction period and motorists who use the road will need to find alternate routes. Motorists are asked to use caution when near the construction area...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The city of Sikeston will spend just more than $1 million in reserve funds to make ends meet in the next fiscal year.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The little secret of Zicam Cold Remedy finally spilled out this week. Though widely sold for years as a drug for colds, it was never tested by federal regulators for safety like other drugs. And that was perfectly legal -- until scores of consumers lost their sense of smell...

CHICAGO -- High-speed rail plans in California and the Midwest appear to be front runners in the race for $8 billion in stimulus cash based on federal criteria released Wednesday that favor projects with established revenue sources and multistate cooperation...

ATHENS, Greece -- About 1,500 years after Christian zealots vandalized the Parthenon's pagan sculptures, Greece's Orthodox Church on Wednesday formally blessed the new Acropolis Museum, set to open this weekend after years of delays. Standing near the remains of an inaugural sacrifice for a third-century B.C. ...

WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would require greater use of renewable energy, make it easier to build power lines and allow oil and gas drilling near the Florida coastline advanced Wednesday in the Senate. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill by a 15-8 bipartisan vote. But both Democrats and Republicans expressed concerns about the bill and hoped to make major changes when it reaches the Senate floor, probably in the fall...

WASHINGTON -- President Obama signaled to gay rights activists Wednesday that he's listening to their priorities by extending some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. But he didn't give them even close to everything they want, bringing growing anger against the president to the surface...

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration said Wednesday it will pump more than $130 million into a Montana town where asbestos contamination has been blamed for more than 200 deaths. EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said the agency for the first time has determined there is a public health emergency in a contaminated community, targeting Libby, Mont., for immediate federal attention...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday: Jackson Firefighter responded to the following call Tuesday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

Cape Girardeau: Arrests; Summonses; Assaults; Thefts; Property damage; Miscellaneous

After you printed my Christian perspective on torturing human beings, I expected a response of some sort -- maybe an "Amen!" from a like-thinking Christian. What I got was a challenge posed by Bill Palmer of Bakersfield, Calif., in which he would murder my children unless I could get him to tell me where he'd hidden them by using only "acceptable" (his term) methods of interrogation...

There are moments in every life that are bound to remain special memories forever, and for about 40 members of the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra one of those highlights will be performing last month on the Great Wall of China near Beijing. The orchestra -- Southeast Missouri State University students, faculty and community members -- gave four concerts over eight days during the China trip. The visit to the Great Wall was the only outdoor concert...

Unlikely reasoning; Immigration solution; Sacrificing lawyers; Religious freedom; Curbing pets; Streets first; TV mess; Health-care future; No raises; Motorcycle concern; Highway forsythia

Howard Lester Aslinger, 68, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at his home. He was born June 20, 1940, in Millersville, son of Lester Earl and Nola Sanora Tinnin Aslinger. He and Carol Jean Phillips were married Oct. 4, 1969. Howard enjoyed serving his community by being involved in Jaycees, Rotary and coaching his girls and others in softball, basketball and soccer. He was a great influence on many people young and old...

BIEHLE, Mo. -- Leo J. Macke, 74, of Biehle died Monday, June 15, 2009, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Leo was born in Wilhelmina, Mo., Aug. 24, 1934, son of the late Henry H. and Frances Seiler Macke. Survivors include his loving companion and best friend, Faye Deem of St. ...

PATTON, Mo. -- Esther Zetta Mills, 81, of Patton died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City, Mo. She was born June 3, 1928, at Marquand, Mo., daughter of Ora and Nancy Griffon Moyers. She married Jessie LeRoy Miller, who preceded her in death. She then married the Rev. Julius Edward Mills on Jan. 17, 1958. He died June 13, 2001...

Richard A. Krueger, 66, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Dec. 9, 1942, in St. Louis, son of Allen Martin and Frieda C. Meyers Krueger. He and Patricia Heiken were married April 21, 1972, in Monroe County, Ill...

Marion Corbert Koch, 94, of Scott City died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at his home. He was born Dec. 30, 1914, at Benton, Mo., to Martin and Bessie Raines Koch. He and Katherine Miller were married May 6, 1939, at Ancell, Mo. Marion was an exchange engineer with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Scott City, where he served as a deacon and treasurer 30 years...

Wilma Faye Friga, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Feb. 22, 1926, at Diehlstadt, Mo., daughter of William A. and Nada Ellen English Anderson. She and Stephen Friga were married Feb. 22, 1961. He died Jan. 22, 1990...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- LaWana M. Hoeh, 88, of Perryville died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Independence Care Center in Perryville. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at Miller Family Funeral Home. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 tonight, and the rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Friday...

For those celebrating lifelong unions, we pray to you, O God. Amen.

June 18, 2009 Dear Patty, I am sitting in our rental house, the brick house I lived in when DC and I first started seeing each other. The house is empty now, the most recent renter gone, the next renter not yet arrived. We decided to give the house some time to "breathe." The curtains are gone and the windows are open. Sunshine and fresh air are clearing the way for new lives to enter...

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com The Lions Club recognized Richard Allgood, left, B.W. Birk, and Harold Hager with Melvin Jones Awards on Wednesday in Cape Girardeau....

The Ford and Sons Cape Girardeau Senior Legion baseball team split a doubleheader on the road Wednesday with Paducah, Ky. Cape (7-7) won the opener 5-0, but dropped the nightcap 6-1. Josh Henson collected the win in the opener with five shutout innings. He allowed five hits, struck out four and walked one. Tyler Glidwell followed with two shutout innings of relief...

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Anthony Kim has lost the dynamic game that made him one of the PGA Tour's rising stars last summer, and knows that Bethpage Black in full U.S. Open trim is an unlikely place to find it. "I just haven't been as patient as I need to be on the golf course, and if there's anywhere that's going to test it, it's going to be at Bethpage," said Kim, set to begin play today on the long, difficult public course...

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Pedro Martinez could be back on a major league mound soon. The right-hander said on Wednesday that he has had talks with the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays and hopes to sign a contract in the near future. "There's a good chance I'll be signing soon, but there still isn't anything firm," Martinez said...

ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols is the only major league player with at least 10 intentional walks. He's got 21. That illustrates two things: how dangerous a hitter he is -- and the lack of protection he has in a light-hitting lineup. For example, the Detroit Tigers walked the St. Louis Cardinals' star intentionally in his first two plate appearances Tuesday, both times with a runner on second and one out...

NEW YORK -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa will join Dodgers manager Joe Torre as an NL coach for next month's All-Star game in St. Louis. Torre said last month he had been selected by Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel, the NL manager. AL manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay picked Kansas City's Trey Hillman and Seattle's Don Wakamatsu as his coaches, the commissioner's office said Wednesday...

ST. LOUIS -- Edwin Jackson knows all about Colby Rasmus, given both players live in Columbus, Ga. The Detroit Tigers' pitcher was not surprised by the rookie's big day against him. "We're pretty much neighbors," Jackson said after giving up a pair of go-ahead hits to Rasmus in the St. Louis Cardinals' 4-3 victory Wednesday night. "He's a good hitter, and he's always been a good hitter from when I watched him when he was younger."...

The Plaza Tire Capahas fell to .500 on the season with a 2-1 road loss to the St. Louis Golden Spikes. Both teams collected just four hits, but the Golden Spikes managed to score single runs in the first and third innings off losing pitcher Dustin Hunter...

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- The U.S. Open might have one tough act to follow. Tiger Woods was pure theater at Torrey Pines last year, playing on a left leg so badly injured that the U.S. Open turned out to be his last event of the year. He made two eagles on the final six holes in prime time Saturday to take the lead, forced a playoff with a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday, then battled Rocco Mediate over 19 holes to capture his 14th career major...

WASHINGTON -- Democratic leaders have committed to enacting by the end of the year the biggest regulatory revision to the U.S. financial system since the 1930s -- an undertaking so ambitious it has some lawmakers worried about missteps. "We have to evaluate it, weigh it, slow it down and make sure we do it right," said Sen. Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee. "Because if we don't, we will pay dearly."...

WASHINGTON -- Delays and disputes bogged down a Senate panel considering the details of remaking the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system. The first formal drafting and voting session on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's sweeping legislation was given over Wednesday to six hours of speechmaking by senators. Nothing was accomplished on the bill itself, and there were suggestions that a goal of completing committee action before the congressional recess July 4 might not be met...

Most people do not have the resources on hand to be artistic. I personally do not have the creativity or skill it takes to "use what you've got." I can't turn a sheet into a purse or paint a mural on a wall, and even if I did, it would make a mess and I wouldn't want to ruin anything...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is getting nearly $19 million in federal grants for repairs needed after winter storms hit the southeastern part of the state in late January. Sen. Claire McCaskill says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing more than $10 million to M & A Electric Power Cooperative for the repair of its electrical transmission system...

Pingel

INDIANAPOLIS -- Employers who offer health insurance coverage could see a 9 percent cost increase next year, and their workers may face an even bigger hit, according to a report from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Costs will rise in part because workers worried about losing their jobs are using their health care more while they still have it, the firm said in the report released to The Associated Press. The report also said rising unemployment is driving up medical costs...

ROME -- Fiat, which has recently taken a controlling stake in Chrysler, called Thursday for a "serious restructuring" of the auto industry, saying the global crisis has worsened the problem of production overcapacity. Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne also laid out plans for car production in Italy, confirming no plants will be closed but that from 2011 one facility will switch from making autos to other types of production...

WASHINGTON -- From simple home loans to Wall Street's most exotic schemes, the government would impose and enforce sweeping new "rules of the road" for the nation's battered financial system under an overhaul proposed Wednesday by President Obama...

ORRVILLE, Ohio -- J.M. Smucker Co. said Thursday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, continuing to benefit from last year's Folgers acquisition. The maker of jams, jellies and Jif peanut butter reported an adjusted profit that easily beat Wall Street's forecast and the company raised its earnings guidance for 2010...

DETROIT -- Chrysler Group LLC plans to restart seven assembly plants at the end of June after silencing all of its factories during its six-week stay in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company confirmed Wednesday that factories in Sterling Heights and Warren, Mich.; St. Louis; Toledo, Ohio; Brampton and Windsor, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico, would restart operations June 29. A plant in Detroit that makes the Dodge Viper sports car restarted Monday...

WASHINGTON -- The total number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls has dropped for the first time since early January, while first-time claims for benefits rose slightly. The Labor Department says the total unemployment insurance rolls fell by 148,000 to 6.76 million, the largest drop in more than seven years and a sign that layoffs are easing...

CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble Co. said Tuesday it will buy the upscale men's skin care line Zirh to continue building its men's grooming business. The world's biggest consumer-products company earlier this month bought Miami-based The Art of Shaving, another high-end male grooming brand that sells razors for more than $300 each...

About 530,000 Starbucks Barista blade grinders and Seattle's Best Coffee blade grinders, made in China and imported by Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash., because the grinder can fail to turn off or can turn on unexpectedly, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. ...

The Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission has set a July 15 hearing date for the Boulevard Local Historic District, and chairman Bill Eddleman hopes it is the last hearing before the project goes to the city council for approval. The plan would establish guidelines for new construction and renovations for the residential area between north of Broadway between West End Boulevard and Henderson Avenue. ...

Southeast Missouri State University had to fill a $1.1 million hole in its budget for next year, but the shortfall was less than expected, said Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins. Faculty and staff did not receive raises and divisions within the university trimmed expenses to balance the budget. The university's board of regents will meet Friday to consider the university and auxiliary operating budgets...

ORAN, Mo. -- Sue Elizabeth Wornica, 88, of Oran died Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at her home. She was born July 21, 1920, in Oran, daughter of Grover Cleveland and Anna Kathryn Miller Ghent. She and William Wornica were married Jan. 26, 1939. He died April 9, 1988...

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County officials are seeking more information on a program to address homelessness. Scott County Commissioners discussed the program during their regular meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said the program is distributing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding through the state...

The fate of the building at 621-623 Broadway that had a wall partially collapse Tuesday evening could be determined by the end of the week. If the owner determines the damages are too great or costly to repair, the structure could possibly face demolition, a step Cape Girardeau interim city manager Ken Eftink hopes does not have to be taken...