Stories from Sunday, January 4, 2004

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regularly compiles data on how many students are in each of the state's school districts, how much each district spends during a school year and how much each district spends on average for each student...

Bill Belichick owns three Super Bowl titles, and after leading the New England Patriots in his best coaching job, he was honored Saturday as The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year. In a year of masterful coaching throughout the league, Belichick led the Patriots to the NFL's best record, 14-2. The Patriots, fighting off injuries almost from the outset of the schedule, won their final 12 games, setting franchise records for winning streak and victories in one year...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Neither Mike Holmgren nor the Green Bay Packers have had much success in the playoffs since they parted ways five years ago. Both expect to change that today when the Seattle Seahawks visit Lambeau Field for a NFC wild-card playoff game...

HONOLULU -- Steve McNair, Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis, all NFL postseason award winners, will start for the AFC in next month's Pro Bowl, joining tight end Tony Gonzalez, offensive tackle William Roaf and fullback Tony Richardson of the Kansas City Chiefs...

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- The Madison County sheriff has shut down the jail's phone system until he can find a way to stop inmates from making random calls. Prisoners, who only can make collect calls, have been dialing numbers at random, trying to convince people who answer to then make costly third-party calls to the prisoners' friends or relatives...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A suburban Kansas City man whose late wife received diluted cancer drugs from pharmacist Robert Courtney has sued the law firms that spearheaded a $73 million settlement with two drug companies. The lawsuit filed by Jerome S. Tilzer, of Leawood, Kan., alleges that the law firms intimidated them into agreeing to the settlement, failed to pursue their claims competently and diligently, and engaged in conflicts of interest and self-dealing...

ST. LOUIS -- Underscoring Missouri's importance in national politics, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton stumped Saturday for Nancy Farmer in the state treasurer's quest to unseat Republican Sen. Kit Bond and perhaps help Democrats wrest back control of the Senate...

NEW BERLIN, Ill. -- From the Lucky Strikes he puffs to his relentless stalking of the front-page story, Jake Brosky is the epitome of the hard-nosed newspaper reporter of the 1950s. Brosky is as brash as his creator, author Taylor Pensoneau, is soft-spoken. ...

Take the words "Elvis" and "fashion" and put them together, and unfashionable images might spring to mind: white jumpsuits, loud polyester prints or the divinely tacky decor of Graceland, the King's home. Blame the 1970s, not Elvis Presley, says Julie Mundy, who wrote "Elvis Fashion" with the cooperation of Graceland...

CAYMAN BRAC -- There's not much reason to go to Cayman Brac. No casinos. Only a few restaurants. Not much shopping. No golf. So what do you do with a week to kill on a Caribbean island with one of the world's best reef systems? S-C-U-B-A. And snorkeling. And hiking, climbing and birding. And the all-important sitting on the beach...

Industry expects winter travel to increase WASHINGTON -- The Travel Industry of America is forecasting an increase in winter travel this season. The organization says Americans are expected to take more than 31 million business trips this season and leisure travel is expected to grow by 2 percent...

WASHINGTON -- The nearly empty U.S. Capitol was evacuated Saturday after a sensor detected a possible biohazard in the basement of the building's Senate wing, but the problem turned out to be an industrial solvent. Capitol Police spokeswoman Jessica Gissebel said field tests came up negative for harmful materials. Samples were being sent to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for further analysis, she said...

In the 14th visit to our state of his presidency, President Bush will be in St. Louis Monday for his only Missouri fund raiser of this campaign. Receipts topped the $2 million mark some days ago on the way to what will likely prove the largest and most successful political fund raiser in Missouri history...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: At 1:01 a.m., a medical assist at 1721 Cape Meadow Circle. At 4:50 a.m., a medical assist at 617 Boxwood. At 11:19 a.m., investigation of an odor at 75 S. Plaza Way. At 2:36 p.m., trash burning at Koch and Herman....

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Thefts Two Missouri license plates were reported stolen Friday at Shawnee Expressway and West End Boulevard. Seven incidents of forgery were reported Friday at 101 S. Mount Auburn Road...

An 18-year-old man was reported shot in the leg early Saturday in the 1700 block of Cape Meadow Circle, Cape Girardeau police said. The victim, who was treated at a local hospital, told police he was assaulted by two unidentified people. Police said the victim wasn't seriously injured in the incident, which occurred at 1:55 a.m...

Three people were injured in two separate accidents in Cape Girardeau County on Friday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Jerran Pasborg, 60, of Cape Girardeau was taken by ambulance to Southeast Missouri Hospital after being injured in a one-vehicle accident at 1:30 p.m. on Cape Girardeau County Road 635...

Otto Seabaugh, a major benefactor of Southeast Missouri State University who -- along with his wife -- helped fund construction of the school's polytechnic building, died Friday in his hometown of Cape Girardeau at the age of 89. University officials praised the charity of Otto Seabaugh and his wife, Della. The Cape Girardeau couple gave more than $1 million to help construct the polytechnic building at Southeast that bears their names. The building was dedicated on Sept. 15, 2001...

Donney Holley of RV America made a $1,000 donation to Toybox in addition to gifts of toys.

Community events planned to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have been announced. Activities in the following list include both university and community events in Cape Girardeau throughout January. 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., program starts at 8 a.m. Jan. 19 at the Show Me Center...

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt -- A charter jet full of French tourists returning home from Egyptian vacations crashed into the shark-infested Red Sea early Saturday, killing all 148 people aboard. Officials blamed mechanical failure. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said the crash, which came as nations heightened security at airports and canceled flights because of terror threats, was "not related to any terrorist act."...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Terrorism, free trade and fighting poverty top the agenda at a South Asian summit today, but attention will be focused on the sidelines, where Pakistani and Indian leaders have a historic opportunity to cement peace overtures after a half-century of hatred...

ST. LOUIS -- Vesa Toskala has learned to make the most of his opportunities. The San Jose Sharks' backup goalie, who had not played since losing in St. Louis 4-2 on Dec. 18, turned the tables on the Blues, making 25 saves to lead the Sharks to a 3-1 victory Saturday night...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A couple of changes in the starting lineup got the attention of No. 23 Missouri. Coach Quin Snyder shook up the status quo, leaving Arthur Johnson and Josh Kroenke on the bench for the opening tipoff, and it shook up the rest of the roster in a 76-56 victory over Iowa on Saturday. Linas Kleiza matched his career best with 18 points, including seven in a 2 1/2-minute stretch of the second half, to help Missouri pull away...

National Guard soldiers in Southeast Missouri and their families gathered Saturday for ceremonial goodbyes in a crowded A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. The private goodbyes will come before 3 a.m. Tuesday when the soldiers of the 1140th Engineer Battalion leave for up to 18 months of active duty, most of it expected to be in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East...

WASHINGTON -- Authorities were concerned with terrorism threats in the air and on the ground Saturday. The British government delayed a London-to-Washington flight for three hours and U.S. officials monitored heavily secured stadiums hosting the first round of football playoffs...

BALTIMORE -- With one gritty victory, the Tennessee Titans ended a run of misery against Baltimore and kept alive their hope of returning to the Super Bowl. NFL career scoring leader Gary Anderson kicked a 46-yard field goal with 29 seconds left after a courageous effort by a limping Steve McNair, giving the Titans a 20-17 victory Saturday in a first-round playoff game...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jake Delhomme could throw, Stephen Davis could run and nothing Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys tried could stop them. Delhomme threw for 273 yards and a touchdown, Davis ran for 104 yards and a score and the Carolina Panthers ended the Parcells-led turnaround in Dallas with a 29-10 victory over the Cowboys in the first round of the NFL playoffs Saturday night...

BAM, Iran -- Iranian rescue workers pulled a 97-year-old woman from the rubble Saturday, nine days after an earthquake razed this city. U.N. officials warned many survivors were suffering psychological disorders as the confirmed death toll rose to 29,700...

PASADENA, Calif. -- A NASA rover plunged through the atmosphere of Mars and bounced down upon its rocky surface Saturday night, beginning a mission to roam the Red Planet in search of evidence that it was once suitable for life. A cheer went up at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory after signals showed the spacecraft had successfully reached Mars...

I missed the final day of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament because of a road trip with Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team. But watching most of the first three days of action at the Show Me Center left me with quite a few strong impressions of the 16-team event...

Theron shares tips on how to gain weight NEW YORK -- Charlize Theron, who modeled before becoming an actress, was a model of how not to eat in preparation for the movie "Monster." Theron gained 30 pounds to play Aileen Wuornos, the Florida prostitute-turned-serial-killer. Theron said her diet consisted "mainly of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and anything that was swimming in cream or had cheese on top of it."...

BEDFORD, Ky. -- Political newcomer Nick Clooney needed no introduction as he shook hands with people hunched over steaming breakfast plates at the Farmhouse restaurant. The 69-year-old congressional candidate has instant recognition in northern Kentucky from his days as a Cincinnati television news anchor...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Insurgents hit a U.S. base in central Iraq with mortar shells, killing one American soldier and wounding two others, the military said Saturday. In a separate attack, rebels set off a bomb and opened fire on a U.S. convoy in Baghdad, killing two soldiers and wounding three...

LOS ANGELES -- If "Sex and the City" puts its fans in the mood for anything these days, it might just be a good cry. The final episodes of HBO's series about four high-flying New York women start airing 8 p.m. today, and after that it's goodbye to Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha...

NEW YORK -- A few months ago, reporter Diane Dimond told Court TV chairman Henry Schleiff that she was working on a great story and would need him to commit money and manpower to help dig it out. But even in the privacy of his office, she wouldn't tell Schleiff what the story was...

LOS ANGELES -- Iranian-American groups have raised more than $1 million to help victims of last week's deadly earthquake in Iran, money that some hope will improve relations between the countries. "I am hoping out of this to have a new relationship going on between the United States and the Iranian government," said Reza Dehbozorgi, head of the Iranian Professionals Association of South Florida...

AUSTIN, Texas -- After nearly a quarter-century as one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, Texas Rep. Ralph Hall switched parties to become a Republican and said he expects support from the White House. He said he's known President Bush since he was a young boy. "He's a godly man. He's a Texan and he was the governor and he's our friend," Hall told The Associated Press Friday...

NEW YORK -- The city's 400th bank robbery of 2003 required no safecracking. No hostage-taking. Not even a drawn gun. The robber simply walked into an HSBC branch in Manhattan on Tuesday, produced a threatening note demanding money and left with an undisclosed amount of cash...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Elvis is having a little trouble with the refrigerator door today. The 6-month-old golden retriever keeps at it, though, tugging on a towel tied to the handle until he finally gets the door ajar. Once inside he grabs a plastic cereal bowl in his teeth from one of the shelves and deposits it on a desk across the room. Next, he opens a drawer to hunt for a spoon...

DENVER -- A winter storm that brought up to 3 feet of snow to parts of Colorado's high country Saturday was blamed for a fatal plane crash and an avalanche that temporarily shut down Vail Pass. A twin-engine plane trying to land in heavy snow crashed less than a quarter-mile from the runway at Cortez-Montezuma County Airport in southwestern Colorado, reported the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With another round of state budget problems and the return of some high-profile bills previously stopped by gubernatorial veto, Missouri's 2004 legislative session in many respects will be a replay of last year's edition. A major difference is this time around the political stakes are significantly higher...

Jackson's boys basketball team may have the longest winning streak in the area at 11, but it is Saxony Lutheran that remains as the lone unbeaten boys team in Southeast Missouri. With a win over Christ Our Savior Lutheran on Saturday, the Crusaders improved to 7-0 in their inaugural varsity season...

Nigeria routs armed Islamic sect; eight killed LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria declared Saturday it had put down an armed uprising by an Islamic movement seeking to create a Muslim state in Africa's most populous nation, after running battles that killed at least eight people. ...

As the saying goes, "They just don't build 'em like they used to." And that is certainly true of the home at 1829 Thilenius in Cape Girardeau. It has the character of a historic home, but the convenience of being located midtown, only minutes from everything Cape Girardeau has to offer...

More Tiger support I JUST wanted to comment on how much I enjoyed the Christmas tournament game between Cape and Jackson. I am a die- hard Central fan, so the loss was very upsetting, but the guys should still be very proud of themselves. I was (as always) impressed with the number of Jackson fans that came out to support their boys. ...

Baseball The Mets reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent reliever Braden Looper on a $6.75 million, two-year contract. The Mets would not confirm the deal Saturday but said they had asked the durable right-hander to take a physical early next week, usually the last step before finalizing a contract. ...

Accident statistics I UNDERSTAND the frustration the people on Dunklin Street are going through. One resident says there are many accidents there, but the police say there have only been eight accidents in the last two years. That's the same thing they told us in our neighborhood when we asked for a reduction in the speed limit. ...

Gary and Mary Hobeck of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Renee Hobeck, to Tommy Lee Tucker. He is the son of Jean Tucker of Zalma, Mo., and Bill Tucker of Springfield, Mo. Hobeck is a 2000 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

Lynn and Linda Yount of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Courtni Brooke Yount, to Joshua Heath Stephens. He is the son of Jill Collins of Cape Girardeau. Yount is a 1997 graduate of Jackson High School. She is majoring in corporate communications at Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Rodney Arnold Homes...

Jim and Marilyn Evans of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Shana Lynn Evans, to Raymond Barnhart Spencer, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Ted and Donna Spencer of Cape Girardeau and Paula and Bake Ottofy of Bland, Mo. Evans attended Southeast Missouri State University...

ST. LOUIS -- Organizers of St. Louis' New Year's Eve blowout had hopes for a big bash, guessing that 25,000 revelers would take part in the gala featuring a Ferris wheel soaring up more than 11 stories. Oh, how they underestimated. The turnout turned out to be at least twice -- by some accounts, quadruple -- what had been envisioned, packing Forest Park, clogging parking lots and overwhelming shuttles in what already had been billed as the biggest New Year's blowout this river town had ever seen.. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For some, cosmetic tattooing is a way to minimize the morning routine. For others, it is a way to feel better about their appearance. But for men and women who consider getting tattooed, experts recommend careful consideration before going through with the procedure...

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. -- If cats have nine lives, then this dog has at least three. A wee dachshund from Rosemount earned the nickname Railroad Joe recently, after running away from owners Tom and Cindy Caruth. The stubby-legged dog took up life on the tracks and made a legend of himself by getting run over by freight trains at least three times in five days -- twice by the same conductor...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Southeast Missouri State University's Indians have already had a few near-misses on the road this season. But Saturday afternoon they finally got over the hump -- thanks to a game-winning shot by Brett Hale with less than one second remaining that lifted the Indians to a thrilling 77-75 victory over Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After obstetrician Jamie Ulbrich's malpractice insurance carrier stopped doing business in Missouri, the best coverage he and three colleagues at their Marshall clinic could find would have cost them double what they paid in 2003...

Seventeen-year-old Brent Bohn doesn't know what he had for breakfast yesterday, but he knows the exact date his family last ate at Cracker Barrel. He loves watching high school football, and his parents celebrated this year when, for the very first time, he chose to sit next to other students at a game instead of hovering at his father's side...

PHILADELPHIA -- Pete Rose admits in his upcoming autobiography that he gambled on baseball, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday. The newspaper cited an unidentified source who was briefed on the book. The New York Times, citing a source in major league baseball, reported Wednesday that Rose admitted to betting on baseball at a meeting with commissioner Bud Selig...

AARP to meet The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of AARP #4041 will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The program, "Senior Learning Opportunities for 2004" will be presented by Beth Mueller, director of the senior learning program at the Hoover Center...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Palm Beach County prosecutors investigating Rush Limbaugh for his prescription drug use have filed "doctor shopping" charges against only one person in the past five years, according to a review of court records. Limbaugh's lawyer said the review by The Palm Beach Post in Saturday's editions offers more evidence that the conservative radio commentator is being unfairly targeted...

For Larry O'Neill, his wife, Becky, their family and their children's guests, the 10th annual St. Francis Indoor Invitational soccer tournament is the last hurrah of Christmas vacation before returning to school on Monday in Marion, Ill. The O'Neills enjoyed a week off with the children and have been staying at the Drury Inn since Friday night. ...

Imagine the winners of tonight's Oklahoma-LSU game leaving the Sugar Bowl waving crooked fingers toward the sky and chanting, "We're No. 1/2." That won't happen, thankfully, but only because the truth-in-advertising laws don't apply to college football. Otherwise, the poor kids wouldn't have a choice...

Nichole Louise Larmie and Jared Peter Snell of St. Louis announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Marilyn Larmie of Cape Girardeau and Ed Larmie of Fairfield, Calif. Snell is the son of Cindy Kerber and Rodger Snell of Cape Girardeau. Larmie is a 2000 graduate of Central High School, and a 2003 graduate of Mineral Area College. She is employed at Gateway in St. Louis...

Arika Britt Lucy and the Rev. Timothy C. Winborne were married June 7, 2003, at First Baptist Church in Jackson. The Rev. Jerry Sullivan of Magee, Miss., performed the ceremony. He was assisted by the Rev. Mary McCord of Sikeston, Mo., aunt of the bride, and the Rev. Richard Britt of Farmington, Mo., grandfather of the bride...

Kathleen Susan Parks, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Life Care Centers of Cape Girardeau. She was born July 18, 1922, in Batesville, Ark., daughter of George W. and Martha M. Ward Turner. Parks was a waitress at Al's Midtown for 26 years. She was a member of the VFW, Eagles, St. Mary Cathedral and the Council of Catholic Women...

Alma Ann Tripp, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born on April 29, 1921, at Wittenberg, Mo., daughter of Ernest H. and Louise Leine Stueve. She and Ralph Tripp were married Aug. 24, 1945, at St. Louis. He died July 16, 2003...

Otto G. Seabaugh, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born on Oct. 9, 1914, at Cape Girardeau, son of John Otto and Caroline Sally Green Seabaugh. He and Della Sievers were married June 24, 1967, at Monroe, N.C...

BENTON, Mo. -- Orland J. Bollinger Sr., 87, of Benton died Saturday Jan. 3, 2004, at the home of his son in Benton. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John W. Henry, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born on March 28, 1922, at McLeansboro, Ill., son of Cornelius and Grace McClimans Henry. He married Guadalupe Vera Ibarro on May 11, 1964, in Mexico City, Mexico...

John W. Henry, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home Sprigg Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Saxony Lutheran's boys basketball team improved to 7-0 with a 65-45 win over Christ Our Savior Lutheran on Saturday at St. Vincent High School. The game, which was scheduled to be played at Christ Our Savior in Evansville, Ill., was moved to St. Vincent due to problems with Christ Our Savior's facilities...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- In 1956, Springfield was abuzz with the news that new rock 'n' roll sensation Elvis Presley would be performing at the Shrine Mosque. David Rosen was 11 years old. Rosen ran from his home to the Shrine Mosque to buy his ticket as soon as he heard the news. He went to the show alone, arriving early. When the doors opened, he raced ahead of the crowd, landing a front-row seat...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Mary Drucilla Hardie, 63, of Reseda, Calif., died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, at North Ridge Hospital in North Ridge, Calif. She was born Sept. 5, 1940, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of Violet Taylor and Philip May. Hardie had been a health-care provider...

ANNA, Ill. -- Alice Cox, 93, of Anna died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Heartland Health Care in Avon, Ind. She was born Aug. 12, 1910, in Flinthill, Mo., daughter of John and Emma Fritz Grothe. She and Henry Cox were married Dec. 12, 1931. He died May 4, 1974...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Faye Lingle Heard, 91, of Hobart, Ind., formerly of Dongola, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at Miller's Merry Manor in Hobart. She was born Aug. 23, 1912, daughter of Jesse and Anne Clark Lingle. She and Earnest Heard were married May 10, 1943. He died Aug. 27, 1974...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jessica Lynn Smith and Joshua Paul Hanlon were married July 19, 2003, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. The Rev. Ralph Duffner performed the ceremony. Lector was Leonard Kirchdoerfer of San Francisco, Calif., uncle of the bride. Organist was Betty Vandeven of Chaffee. ...

Angela Marie Basler and William T. Peters exchanged vows Sept. 13, 2003, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in St. Louis. The Rev. Michael Esswein performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Robert and Betty Basler of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Hedy Melliere and William and Martha Peters, all of St. Louis...

10 years ago: Jan. 4, 1994 Jackson Realtor unable to fill his office building with tenants has sparked firestorm of protest over his request to change building's zoning to better suit market demands. Jackson police chief Larry Koenig will resign soon to accept new position of personnel director and office manager at Jackson City Hall...

UNIONTOWN, Mo. -- Helen L. Wichern, 79, of Uniontown died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born on Aug. 7, 1924, at Jacob, Ill., daughter of Gustave and Ida Guetersloh Darnstaedt. She was a retired postmistress. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown, the Grace Ladies Aid, the LWML and the Retired Cheerful Country Doers...

ANNA, Ill. -- Noma Helen Jordan Lancaster, 91, of rural Anna died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born on July 2, 1912, at Mill Creek, Ill., daughter of Henry and Minnie Lingle Jordan. She married Oris Jordan, who died in 1955. She then married Ed Lancaster, who died Jan. 9, 1986...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- S.R. "Wes" Schuchart, 91, of Sikeston died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born May 2, 1912, in Union, Mo., son of Rudolph and Minnie Schuchart. He and Ella M. Heuiser were married on April 23, 1935, in Sikeston. She died April 30, 1999...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Marie C. Modde, 88, of Perryville died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 15, 1915, in Belgique, Mo., daughter of Ernst and Mary Moll Wood. She and Edward L. Modde were married Feb. 13, 1936. He died Oct. 1, 1990...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Madge Miller, 99, of Ullin, formerly of Dongola, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born April 23, 1904, daughter of William and Melissa Hill Toler. She and Russell Calvin were married in 1921. Miller worked for eight years for a shoe factory. ...

Like dreams, statistics are a form of wish fulfillment. -- Jean Baudrillard In Illinois, some school officials are having a field day with statistics showing how well their students did on federal math and reading tests....