Stories from Friday, August 20, 2010

Gabby Vieira just was trying to learn how to dive from her father. Luckily for coach Steve Franklin, the then-8-year-old was swimming during a Gator Swim Team practice. "I found Gabby jumping off a diving board and swimming to her parents while I was having practice," Franklin said. "I'm always trying to find new swimmers and I just went over and gave them my card. It seems to have been a good choice."...

Two Scott County service stations may be penalized for allegedly failing to comply with Missouri's underground storage tank law, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Cape Girardeau Roller Girls are looking for a few good women -- and some men, too. The group organized in early spring and has spent the summer learning the details, rules and skills involved in flat track roller derby. The roller girls will be holding "fresh meat" practices from 6 to 9 p.m. ...

By 10 a.m. Thursday, Julia Derr's dorm room was piled high with unopened boxes, clothes, towels, a small refrigerator and other items the freshman believed she would need to transform her new abode into a home.

Members of the Cape Girardeau School Board discussed the revision of the current teacher salary schedule and improving communications with parents at a retreat and work session Thursday. The board first discussed revisions to the salary schedule at July's retreat but were unable to complete the talk. Thursday did not yield many decisions, either. Members said they wanted to increase teachers' base salary to be more competitive with other districts...

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a New Madrid, Mo. woman received moderate injuries Thursday when her car struck the rear of another car on U.S. 61 south of Benton, Mo., at 1:40 p.m. Annie L. Williams, 78, was taken by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

This is a two pound tomato I got off my tomato vines, and my friends said I should send it in to the Missourian. It was planted as a Big Boy, but it's pinker than a Big boy, and has the shape of a Beef Steak tomato.

The effects of the breakdown of the American family was the theme of discussion Thursday at the Southeast Missouri Pachyderm Club's Family Values Forum. "Young people don't believe in marriage anymore because there's been so much divorce," said panelist Molly Strickland, executive director of Lutheran Family and Children's Services. "That's why they're just living together ... to see if they can make it because their parents didn't."...

The Cape Girardeau Road Runners along with sponsors Healthpoint Plaza, River Eagle Distributing, and Ghisallo Running will host the 30th annual City of Roses Half Marathon/5K Sunday September 19th at Healthpoint Plaza in Cape. The proceeds from this even go to support youth running in the area...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- An area couple who misrepresented themselves to gain access into people's homes pleaded guilty in Stoddard County Wednesday and received a prison sentence for the crimes. The Daily American Republic newspaper reported Tonya Lynn (McCollough) Simpson, 34, of Bloomfield and John L. ...

Looking south out of small FOB in Afghanistan towards the mountains of Pakistan.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department will host a barbecue and silent auction Sunday to benefit the daughter of officer Jon Jensen. Four-year-old Abby Jensen was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this month. Cpl. Alvin Spencer said the event will feature good food and fun activities for the whole family...

This is a picture of US Bancorp Foundation giving $2,000 to Old Town Cape. In the Picture from left to right- Jessica Mobley-US Bank, Stan Penn- Regional President,US Bank, Marla Mills-Executive Director, Old Town Cape, Representing Old Town Cape is Kent Zickfield President and Cory Daniels Board Member of Old Town Cape...

US Bank Foundation Donating to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. US Bancorp Foundation gives to needs that offer support to things that improve the educational and economic opportunities of low - and moderate - income individuals and families and enhance the cultural and artistic life of the communities in which we live and work; all things related to nonprofit organizations alike...

US Bank Donates to Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation. In the picture is Market President of US Bank Steve Green and Executive Director of Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation Mary Burton-Hitt.

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- The body of a woman found at Hawn State Park in Ste. Genevieve County on Thursday was that of a Scott County woman, according to a news release from the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Office. The woman was identified as Michele Irene Boyd, 35, of Miner...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston businessman faces a sexual assault charge following an investigation by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported James Luther Brown, 57, of Sikeston is charged with a class C felony charge for sexual assault, according to Sgt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for DPS...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri plans to appeal a court ruling striking down regulations against the use of dogs and vehicles in hunting deer. The Missouri Conservation Commission voted Friday to proceed with an appeal of the ruling made earlier this month by a Ripley County judge...

Whether they are classic stacks of wax or fresh albums currently topping the charts, vinyl records have played an important role in the rich history of the recording industry. Collectors scour garage sales, church bazaars, auctions and dusty shelves seeking that holy grail of records, but the search never really ends...

His close golfing friends remember him getting the "yips" during bad putting spells. Community leaders remember him for his strong-but-quiet input on issues. Newspaper industry leaders remember him for being a mentor. Wally Lage, vice president and chief operating officer of Rust Communications, died Thursday night in Maine, after slipping off a wharf. He was 66. And he was admired by many.

Arts and entertainment briefs

Jonathan Seyer wanted to share his passion for photography when he came home from college this summer, so he set up two local shows with the help of family and friends in the art community. One of the shows, which was on display for this month's First Friday show at the Black Door Gallery, represented Seyer's edgy personal side. The other, still hanging at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, gives a look into his interpretation of the human condition...

Tunes at Twilight presents a local act for the outdoor concert at 6:30 p.m. today at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo. Surtsey will make its Tunes debut. The trio plays often in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, and will be joined by a fourth on keyboard and electric guitar. ...

Where are the so-called religious people who talk against casinos and spout the Bible when I see "Ms." in the newspaper after a baby is born? Talk about morals. Where are they? I have never yet seen a senior citizen get pregnant at a casino. JULIANNE STEVENS, Jackson...

Three Missouri Main Street Downtown Revitalization Awards have recognized the positive efforts in Cape Girardeau to improve and revitalize the downtown district through efforts assisted by Old Town Cape. The awards were given last week in St. Louis...

WE went to see Mike Dumey's "Sing, America, Sing" with stars-on-the-rise local talent. We sure enjoyed seeing a Broadway and country musical without driving to St. Louis or Branson. Thanks, Mike and rising stars, for a wonderful, fun evening. DOES Jackson need a new east area fire station? Yes. ...

Watch over those who seek to learn as classes resume for another school year. Amen.

Samad Afridi. Touri Bolourchi. Osman Gani. Ayub Khan. Rahma Salie and unborn child. Robert Elias Talhami. These are a few of the more than 60 names posted online of Muslims -- other than the terrorists -- who died in the 9/11 attacks. Are these the names of real people?...

SAN DIEGO -- Salvage divers gently cleared away silt and mud covering a World War II dive bomber buried in the bottom of the San Diego reservoir, carefully working Thursday to lift the rare plane from the water 65 years after it was ditched during a training run...

SAN FRANCISCO -- An American Airlines flight bound for New York City was halted just before takeoff Thursday after someone called police and threatened to hijack the jetliner, authorities said. A witness said two people were taken off the plane in handcuffs...

WASHINGTON -- A 22-mile-long invisible mist of oil is meandering far below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, where it will probably loiter for months or more, scientists reported Thursday in the first conclusive evidence of an underwater plume from the BP spill...

WASHINGTON -- The moon may be shrinking. Not to worry though, lovers and crooners, it won't be disappearing any time soon. New research indicates cracks in the moon's crust that have formed as the interior has cooled and shrunk over the last billion years or so. That means the surface has shrunk, too, though not so you'd notice just from gazing at it...

CAIRO -- A Saudi judge has asked several hospitals in the country whether they could damage a man's spinal cord as punishment after he was convicted of attacking another man with a cleaver and paralyzing him, local newspapers reported Thursday...

ISLAMABAD -- Islamist terrorists may exploit the chaos and misery caused by the floods in Pakistan to gain new recruits, the country's president warned Thursday -- remarks echoed by a leading U.S. senator who said America would stand by its vital wartime ally during the crisis...

MADRID -- A bull leapt into the packed grandstands of a Spanish bullring and ran amok, charging and trampling spectators and leaving 40 people injured, regional officials said Thursday. Video showed the bull jumping several yards high out of the ring, clearing two barriers before landing in the stands and raising a panic as he lurched through the screaming crowd, charging and tossing everything he could...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WILSON, Afghanistan -- "May you have a blessed Ramadan," reads a poster greeting U.S. troops outside a base mess tent. It refers to Islam's holiest month, a time of good deeds, prayer and purification of the spirit through sunrise-to-sunset fasting...

BENTON, Mo. -- This weekend, Scott County residents will have the chance to learn search and rescue techniques during training planned for Saturday and Sunday. The course will last from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday...

L. Geneva Evans, 88, of Cape Girardeau departed this life Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, at the Lutheran Home. She was born May 5, 1922, in Duarte, Calif., daughter of the late Robert Foster Davis and Geneva Atherton Davis. She and Louis W. Evans were married June 26, 1940. He preceded her in death March 18, 1990...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Paul Wilson Bollinger, 82, of Perryville passed away Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, at his home. He was born Dec. 16, 1927, in Patton, Mo., son of John Roscoe and Elsie Ann Knowles Bollinger. He and Joy Welker were married Nov. 14, 1953. She died Dec. 5, 1976. He later married Geraldine Joy "Jari" King Oct. 6, 1979...

Alpha C. "Pete" Plumb Hutson, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at the Lutheran Home. She was born July 23, 1921, in Allenville, to John Wesley and Dora Belle Gilder Surlet. She first married Burnett O. Plumb Sr., who preceded her in death Feb. 24, 1965...

Heather Colleen Seabaugh, 38, of Shawneetown passed away Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, at her home. She was born June 24, 1972, in Rolla, Mo., daughter of Nicholas Howard and Mary Susan Prost Tibbs. She and Michael Lee Seabaugh were married Sept. 14, 1999...

BENTON, Mo. -- Catherine Nadine Toner of Rankin, Ill., formerly of Benton, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, in Danville, Ill. Catherine was born June 29, 1959, in Cape Girardeau, to W.A. and Julia Strosnider Lynn. She is survived by her husband, Timothy L. ...

Jimmie Fischer, 73, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, at Grandview Nursing Home in Washington, Mo. Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Ida Forbeck, 90, of Jackson died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 12, 1920, in Starzlan, Germany, to Antone and Augusta Feiler Kuster. She and Frank Forbeck were married June 12, 1949, in St. Louis...

C.D. Walker, 85, of Old Appleton passed away Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Cozean Memorial Chapel, 217 West Columbia St., Farmington, Mo. Visitation will resume at 7 a.m. Saturday...

ANNA, Ill. — Opal Casper, 98, of Anna died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2010, at Anna Rehabilitation and Care Center. Crain Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Twin son and daughter to Kyle James Pender and Whitney Ann Rulo of Patton, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, Friday, Aug. 13, 2010. Cannon Lazarus was born at 3:50 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds. Gabriella Rose was born at 3:53 p.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. Ms. Rulo is the former Whitney Kendall, daughter of Donna Wideman and Gary Wideman of Cadet, Mo., and Bill Kendall of Catawissa, Mo. Pender is the son of Barry Pender and Elizabeth Roy of Jackson. He is employed by River City Masonry...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Martha P. Keirce, 85, of Charleston, Mo., formerly of Cairo, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010, at her home. There is no visitation. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Beechwood Cemetery in Mounds, Ill., with the Rev. Richard Pigg officiating...

The long lines that formerly snaked around Southeast Missouri State University's enrollment office have disappeared; students enrolling for fall semester classes this year are doing it by way of modern technology in the university's new Enrollment Center; the process is now computerized, thanks to a new system installed with $40,000 from the University Foundation...

Beginning in October, KFVS12, a CBS affiliate in Cape Girardeau, will begin airing an hourlong newscast seven nights a week on local Fox affiliate KBSI. "There was a time when we wouldn't have thought of this, but this is a new way of thinking," said Paul Keener, director of marketing at KFVS12. "If people are going to watch, it doesn't matter if it's on a competing station."...

The United Way of Southeast Missouri debuted a new video highlighting area needs for its 2010-2011 fundraising campaign to local media Thursday. Nearly 10,000 lives are affected by contributions to the United Way, according to the three-and-a-half-minute video that can be seen at www.unitedwayofsemo.org...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Summonses Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...

It's not often you start the weekend with a mission, but a few dozen people in Cape Girardeau and Paducah, Ky., spent the 48 hours between Friday and Sunday night making a movie that may bring them fame. The Paducah 48-Hour Film Project operates like the more than 90 other events across the world. Filmmakers have 48 hours to write, film, edit and deliver a seven-minute movie...

The Redhawks want to re-establish themselves in the 2010 season.

St. Louis has fallen three games behind the Reds after losing its last four games at home

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals got some help at third base Thursday, acquiring Pedro Feliz from the Houston Astros for minor league pitcher David Carpenter. The Cardinals also placed catcher Jason LaRue on the 60-day disabled list. LaRue sustained a concussion in a fracas with the Reds earlier this month...

The rookie is expected to see more actional than starting QB A.J. Feeley

NEW YORK -- Former mayor Rudy Giuliani joined a growing number of politicians Thursday supporting a move of a proposed Islamic center and mosque near ground zero to state-owned land farther from the Sept. 11 attack site. Giuliani, who led New Yorkers through Sept. 11 and its aftermath and whose opinion on the mosque could carry considerable clout, made his comments as the imam leading plans for the community center toured the Middle East promoting religious tolerance...

Highway 77 at Blomeyer will be closed Monday to allow construction crews to begin work on roundabout. If all goes as planned the road will reopen Oct. 18. Darius Dowdy, resident engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said starting Monday a detour signs will be in place to direct people around the closure...

The Bulldogs' point guard said she will sign in November

A decade ago, Human Zoo rocked many a Cape Girardeau music fan. On Saturday the members of this party-friendly band will get back together for a reunion performance. "It just seemed like it would be fun. We've wanted to do it for years," said Todd Mayberry, guitarist and vocalist. "We just all got to a point where we are more settled with job situations, and we just thought it would be a good time."...

A girl was attacked by a Great Dane in front of a Cape Girardeau store Wednesday afternoon. Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jason Selzer said the 9-year-old Cape Girardeau girl was attacked around 4 p.m. Wednesday in front of Big Lots, 210 S. Silver Springs Road...