Stories from Thursday, March 24, 2011

PLATO, Mo. (AP) -- In a nation of nearly 310 million people, America's new population center rests not in a Midwestern skyline of St. Louis or Chicago, but in a tiny Missouri village named after an ancient Greek philosopher. The Census Bureau announced Thursday what the 109 residents of Plato had suspected for weeks: Shifting population patterns and geographical chance converged to make this town on the edge of Mark Twain National Forest the center of the U.S. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Bill Engvall doesn't claim to have the cleanest act in comedy. As he puts it: "It's not Disney on Ice." At the same time, the award-winning comedian of "Blue Collar" comedy fame prefers not to use profanity in his routines either...

Midtown Family Medical Center, operated by the Cape Girardeau Craftsman Independent Union, has reopened to the public. The clinic closed the the public Friday after what union officials said was a disagreement with the U.S. Department of Labor. Union officials believed the clinic could no longer serve the general public, only union members and their dependents, because it violates the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act...

After 14 years of operating as the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, or SEMO-NASV, the advocacy and medical center announced Wednesday it's changing its name.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A 51-year-old Cape Girardeau man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday for attempting to rape a 16-year-old girl last May. Craig Kizer pleaded guilty to charges of attempted rape in January, just a day before a jury trial was set to begin in his case...

A fire at Flickerwood Farms in Jackson was contained quickly to a small area of the facility that produces wood shavings Wednesday afternoon. The fire originated around 2:15 p.m. when a machine that collects sawdust was clogged, causing it to catch fire.

SoutheastHEALTH Auxiliary recently donated more than $40,000 toward construction of a landscaped garden at the Southeast Cancer Center. Pictured from left: Auxiliary President Jeanette Patterson, Auxiliary Vice President Judy Brown, SoutheastHEALTH President and CEO Debbie Linnes, and Vice President of Human Resources and Development Wayne Smith. ...

The Perryville High School Student Council was recently awarded the Southeast District Missouri Association of Student Councils "Secretary School Award for 2009-10." The award was made at the Missouri Association of Student Councils State Convention held in Mehlville, Missouri. ...

Sonnie is 7 months old. He is neutered and declawed. Sonnie is available for adoption at The Humane Society 573-334-5837. See more pets available at www.semopets.org.

An acclaimed Russian orchestra, a renowned Moscow ballet and a feisty nun all await performing arts lovers in a busy 2011-2012 season of touring productions at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

Our fellow employee and friend Carl Pease, Jr. has been fighting the battle with cancer since his diagnosis in October. We are going to hold a benefit in which all proceeds will be donated to Carl to help with the growing medical expenses and would like your help...

Termites are leading the way to tighter security at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. The wooden floor of the lower level courtroom in the century-plus-old building became a feast for the pests last year. There was talk of bringing in an exterminator to "send the critters to rest," as Circuit Clerk Patti Wibbenmeyer put it, but the damage was done...

During National Kidney Month this March, Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading network of dialysis facilities, partnered with Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr., of Food Network's "Big Daddy's House," to create bold and flavorful recipes for people with kidney failure who follow a strict diet...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee city officials are hoping for a "yes" vote from residents April 5 to increase the sales tax. On the ballot are two questions asking residents to approve or vote down a half-cent tax increase for storm-water and park improvements and a quarter-cent increase for Chaffee Fire Department operations. Chaffee residents currently pay a sales tax of 6.725 percent. Residents in Scott City pay a sales tax of 6.975 percent...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Due to a clerical error, Penzel Construction may not be the low bidder on a proposed new Sikeston Department of Public Safety building. Bids from the seven general contractors who submitted them were opened last week and were "very, very competitive," said Brett Patrick Dille of the Dille and Traxel architectural firm in Poplar Bluff, Mo., during a special Sikeston City Council meeting Tuesday. "We all were excited to see the bids we saw."...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Concerns about an old cemetery and a homeowner's property were presented to the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night during a discussion about annexation of the proposed site for a new Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center...

The Central baseball team defeated Chaffee 8-3 in challenging conditions Wednesday

The Oak Ridge baseball team defeated host Delta 11-0 behind Brett Thomas' perfect game

After reviewing data suspected of being incorrect, Cape Girardeau School District officials found that the district's 2010 graduation rate was actually 78.4 percent, over 5 percentage points higher than the 73 percent figure announced last fall in the Missouri Department of Secondary Education's Annual Performance Report...

HAVE you been to the Jackson Recycling Center? Descriptive words for this center: clean, organized, friendly and personal. If you need help, someone is there to assist. A posted list states what you may bring. Separate large boxes are for papers, magazines, glass, plastic, etc. Separate from this are two large concrete areas for tree limbs and leaves, cleaned daily. I tip my hat to Jackson for this facility, another area that this growing city is proud of...

March 24, 2011 Dear Julie, If in a matter of a few years one-fourth of the people in Cape Girardeau died of starvation or disease or moved away, the city would be devastated economically, socially and psychologically. That happened to Ireland on a much larger scale, and the country is still getting over it...

O Lord Jesus, we cast our cares upon You, for You care for us. Amen.

What's happening this weekend

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Legoland officials said Wednesday they are counting on the popularity of the little plastic building blocks to draw families to their newest theme park, which will open this fall near Orlando. Incorporating as many as 50 million of the iconic Lego bricks in rides and attractions geared toward children 2 to 12, Legoland Florida is under construction in Winter Haven, a 45-minute drive south of Walt Disney World and the other main Orlando parks. ...

We see them in the sky all the time, but have you ever made your own cloud? You can, and all you need are a few items from around the house. STEP 2: With an adult present, light a match, and then quickly place the match into the bottle. Screw the cap onto the bottle...

DARAA, Syria -- Syrian police launched an assault Wednesday on a neighborhood sheltering anti-government protesters, fatally shooting at least 15 in an operation that began before dawn, witnesses said. At least six were killed in the early morning attack on the al-Omari mosque in the southern agricultural city of Daraa, where protesters have taken to the streets in calls for reforms and political freedoms, witnesses said. ...

TOKYO -- Radiation leaking from Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant has caused Tokyo's tap water to exceed safety standards for infants to drink, officials said Wednesday, sending anxiety levels soaring over the nation's food and water supply...

The Esquire Theater, 824 Broadway, has been reacquired by its former owners, Dubinsky Brothers Theaters of Lincoln, Neb.; the building had been owned and operated for a time by Ed Fairbanks of McClure, Ill., who closed it several weeks ago. Missouri State Auditor Margaret Kelly, at a news conference at the municipal airport, announces she is a candidate for a second term as state auditor...

Son to Christopher Craig and Jennifer D. Filer of Marble Hill, Mo., Southeast Hospital, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2011. Name, Brogan Cade. Weight, 9 pounds. Third son. Mrs. Filer is the former Jennifer Stratton, daughter of Lynn and Ann Stratton of Marble Hill. She is employed by Woodland School District. Filer is the son of Steve and Bev Filer of Marble Hill and Jaki and Michael Rodriguez of Chaska, Minn. He is employed by Miller Power and Control...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Gary Burch, 64, of St. Charles died Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at his home. He was born in Kaskaskia Island, Ill., on July 22, 1946, son of the late Lee J. and Dorothy A. Lawrence Burch. He and Diana S. Siegmund Powers were married Dec. 1, 2001...

BROWNWOOD, Mo. -- Lydia Mae Harrell Mitchell, 78, of Brownwood passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 5, 1932, at Brownwood, daughter of Jess and Cora Allen Harrell. Lydia was a former board member of Brownwood Cemetery. She retired as a cook from Advance Nursing Center. She had dedicated her life to God with her talent of music. She was a Christian of General Baptist belief...

BENTON, Mo. -- James "Jimbo" Westbrook Jr., 52, of Benton passed away Monday, March 21, 2011, at his home. He was born May 6, 1958, in Upper Darvey, Pa., son of James and Patricia Delsandro Westbrook. James had been a lineman. He was a member of SEMO Harley Owners Group...

Lowell Junior Russom, 82, of Scott City died Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 14, 1928, in Cape Girardeau, to Lester Lowell and Lola Mae Simmons Russom. He married Addie Mae Smith Oct. 18, 1953, in Scott City...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Bobby G. Thiele, 74, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Fred Ritter officiating. Burial will be in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Paul Edward Wise, 83, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Paul had been a resident of the Missouri Vet- erans Home in Cape Girardeau the past year. He was born May 27, 1927, in Commerce, Mo., to the late Pete and Elsie Sanders Wise. He lived most of his life in Sikeston...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

GOLDEN, Colo. -- Crews battling the wildfire burning in the foothills west of Denver were getting some help from the air Wednesday as windy weather diminished. Helicopters were dropping water on the fire that has burned nearly 2 square miles of steep, wooded terrain near Golden. An air crew was flying above the fire and letting ground crews know of any changes in fire behavior...

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- A 22-year-old U.S. soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday to the murders of three unarmed Afghan civilians, telling a military judge "the plan was to kill people" in his coordinated conspiracy with four fellow soldiers...

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A Coast Guard petty officer was sentenced Wednesday to three months in the brig for his role in a boat collision in San Diego Bay that killed an 8-year-old boy. The seven-member jury gave Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Ramos the maximum term of confinement, as well as a reduction in rank and pay, after finding him guilty Tuesday of dereliction of duty for failure to conduct a risk assessment...

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

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrest...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Mike Anderson is returning to Arkansas to become the Razorbacks' basketball coach. The school confirmed the move Wednesday night. Anderson leaves Missouri after five seasons to return to the school where he was an assistant to Nolan Richardson for 17 seasons. He replaces John Pelphrey, who was fired March 13...

LOS ANGELES -- Elizabeth Taylor, the violet-eyed film goddess whose sultry screen persona, stormy personal life and enduring fame and glamour made her one of the last of the classic movie stars and a template for the modern celebrity, died Wednesday at age 79...

Scott Little of Jackson recently carded his first career hole-in-one at Kimbeland Country Club. Little used an 8-iron to ace No. 12, a par 3 playing 145 yards. Witnesses were Homer Greening, Terry Hill and Scott Masterson. Cape Girardeau's Bryan Kelpe completed 102.336 miles in a 24-hour period to win the Howard Aslinger Foundation run...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Jake Westbrook has one goal in mind for his final start of spring training. "I definitely would like to give myself a chance to get deep in the ballgame," Westbrook said. "That comes with putting hitters on the defensive as opposed to the offensive."...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Route N between Route Spur N and County Road 416 in Bollinger County will be closed today while Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under the road. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs...

All Wednesday's news from Southeast Missouri State athletics

Scholarships The following students received scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2011-2012 school year: Honors, achievements Jackson's bands are superior -- again. Jackson High School and freshman bands performed in last week's Missouri State High School Activities Association state music contest last week. ...

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel hired Brandon "Cherokee" Valeria to coach the defensive backs.

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association announced its all-state team, and nine local players were honored.

A night to celebrate the naming of Scott City High School's football field after former coach William Wilthong will be held Saturday at the Scott City Knights of Columbus. The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will include a fish fry and banquet. Current Scott City football coach Jim May, who played for Wilthong, said he expects a big crowd that will include many of Wilthong's former players...

As funny as Neil Simon's farcical play "Rumors" is, this weekend's performance will be bittersweet for four Cape Girardeau Central High School seniors who are finishing a productive run together in high school theater. The Red Dagger, the high school's theater club, opens "Rumors" today with a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Central Junior High School auditorium. The show will be performed at the same time Friday and Saturday...

The Kelly baseball team only collected one hit in its 17-0 loss to Sikeston

All the scores from Wednesday that were reported to the Southeast Missourian.

NEW ORLEANS -- The blowout preventer that should have stopped the BP oil spill failed largely because of a faulty design and a trapped piece of pipe, an official probe found Wednesday, appearing to shift some blame for the blowout from the oil giant and toward those who built and maintained the 300-ton safety device...

WASHINGTON -- Stretched thin by two wars, the U.S. military is spending upward of $1 billion in an international assault to destroy Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses and save rebels from likely defeat, according to analysts and a rough calculation of the military operation so far...

BENGHAZI, Libya -- NATO ships patrolled off Libya's coast Wednesday as airstrikes, missiles and energized rebels forced Moammar Gadhafi's tanks to roll back from two key western cities, including one that was the hometown of army officers who tried to overthrow him in 1993...

There have been many comments in the community, both positive and negative, regarding our decision as a staff and city council to pay the bonds on the Commander building at the airport rather than to rebond. I want to explain the rationale behind that decision and the reason that those decisions were made in a relatively short period of time...

One year after federal health care reform was signed into law by President Barack Obama, it's still so controversial people can't even agree on what to call it. Supporters tout it as the Affordable Care Act, while opponents demanding its repeal refer to it as "Obamacare."...

Scott City Middle School Third Quarter High Honor Roll 5th grade: Camryn Daniels, Kurt Howell, Makayla Job, Colleen Kenney, Gracelyn Kern, Madison Thompson 6th grade: Jamie Glastetter, Jacquelyn Roth, Jacob Smith, Ryan Wilfawn, Ty Wilthong 7th grade: Isabella Bowers, Paige McNeely, Lauren Pritchard, Andrew Schroeter, Hannah Shemonia...

NAME: Tammy Wadlington PLACE OF BIRTH: Cape Girardeau SPOUSE, CHILDREN'S NAMES: Robert-spouse Children: Blake, 19, graduate of Kelly High School; Austin, 15, sophomore at Kelly High School; Lauren, 11, 5th grade at Kelly Elementary OCCUPATION: Controller...