Stories from Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Participants in the next local United We Read program will travel 143 years back in time and 34 miles north of Cape Girardeau to Civil War-era Grand Tower, Ill. Organizer Julia Jorgensen announced Tuesday that the book "The River Between Us" by Newberry Award-winning author Richard Peck has been selected for the 2005 citywide reading program...

Jean Martin always thought that the obstetrics room of a hospital was a happy place. But lying in a bed on the OB level of Southeast Missouri Hospital on an August night in 1993, it seemed to her to be the most miserable place on earth. From the rooms around her, she could hear the crying of newborn babies in their mothers' arms. Her baby, she knew, was not crying...

Age-yellowed clippings from the Southeast Missourian paint a clear picture of Grada "Babe" Naeter's love of nature. In one clip, she attends a landscape design class in St. Louis. In another clip, she discusses the importance of conserving nature with a local women's club...

Bringing high-speed Internet service and similar technologies to rural Missouri is a costly venture, but regional communications professionals and state politicians suggest it's going to be a necessity. Danny Stratton, owner of Show-Me Net in Jackson, said if Internet access were more readily available in rural areas, he would move out of town...

As coroner, John Clifton will add a new warm body to the Cape Girardeau County government on Jan. 1. But what will the new coroner do with the cold bodies that come his way? Clifton met with the county commission Monday to talk about that. Clifton told the commission he would like to see the county rent space to store bodies that were involved in automobile accidents, drownings, homicides, suicides or any matter that involves an investigation. ...

Graduating from college isn't just an exercise for young adults. Some middle-aged adults also are donning those black graduation gowns. They include Southeast Missouri State University professor Mark Langenfeld, 50, of Cape Girardeau, Judy Bruyette, 50, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Peggy Cross, 46, of Portageville, Mo...

The Other Half says he can't get the holiday spirit in Florida. White lights spiraling up palm trees, Santa knickknacks dressed in Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts -- it's just not in line with his concept of Christmas. A lot of Florida transplants feel the same way. ...

ST. LOUIS -- A ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the government to deport a former Nazi concentration camp guard who settled in suburban St. Louis 50 years ago. The high court on Monday let stand an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in June that the government can deport Michael Negele, 83. It denied his appeal without comment...

ST. LOUIS -- In the spirit of the holidays, the charitable have restocked a sales lot raided by thieves of 92 Christmas trees that were to be used in a fund raiser. Thieves cleared out nearly one-third of the Affton Athletic Association's trees early on Dec. 5 or Dec. 6, stealing away with spruces, pines and balsam firs from the lot serving as a fund-raising project to pay for capital improvements at the group's ice rink in Fenton...

WASHINGTON -- The government's chief of AIDS research rewrote a safety report on a U.S.-funded drug study to change its conclusions and delete negative information. Later, he ordered the research resumed over the objections of his staff, documents show...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- To catch two suspects Monday, Poplar Bluff police needed only to follow the trail of stolen goods -- literally. In their haste to make off with stolen items, the thieves dropped some of them along the way, creating a series of clues for police to follow...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As Missouri's homeland security director, Tim Daniel spearheaded a contract for a high-tech Web site accessible to law officers and other emergency workers. Now Daniel has resigned to go to work for the contractor, marketing the product he helped conceive...

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have been looking for a running back since Barry Sanders suddenly retired five years ago. Their search may have ended when they drafted Kevin Jones. The rookie running back has been the lone bright spot on offense for the reeling Lions, who have lost six of seven games since their 4-2 start...

WICHITA, Kan. -- A federal grand jury has indicted former Barton County Community College coach Ryan Wolf on charges that he illegally provided financial help and false academic credentials to several athletes, including former Missouri guard Ricky Clemons...

There's the GMAC Bowl, the Emerald Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Continental Tire Bowl and the MPC Computers Bowl. Starting Tuesday with the New Orleans Bowl, 28 bowl games were scheduled for a three-week stretch, involving nearly half the teams in Division I-A...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq will bring top figures of Saddam Hussein's ousted regime to court next week for the first time since they appeared before a judge five months ago, and formal indictments could be issued next month. Many have been in custody for more than a year and have not met with lawyers, prompting Saddam's attorneys to cry foul...

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Hundreds of U.N. peacekeeping troops stormed a stronghold of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's supporters on Tuesday, seeking control of areas that have become flashpoints of violence. At least four people were killed. Shootouts broke out between residents and U.N. troops who rolled into Cite Soleil before dawn, said Damian Onses-Cardona, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission. At least six people were shot in the slum Tuesday...

JERUSALEM -- Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader campaigning to succeed Yasser Arafat in elections next month, said in an interview published Tuesday that the 4-year-old armed uprising against Israel was a mistake and must end. His strong statement, which could cost him some electoral support, sent a challenge to militants who have been waging war with suicide attacks and ambushes; it also set the stage for a resumption of peace efforts if he wins...

smcclanahan The weeks are so full of parties, school programs and church activities that we don't know if we are coming or going. But one of my favorite programs of the season so far was the play at our daughter's school. She goes to the Explore program once a week and her class wrote a play and made all of the props. ...

Kerry Robinson hopes he doesn't have to wait very much longer to know what his baseball future holds. "I really hope something happens for me pretty quick," said Robinson, a former Southeast Missouri State University standout. "I've been training, and I'd like to know what I'll be doing next season."...

Jackson retired the jersey of Jason Schafer prior to a victory over Hillsboro. ~ Southeast Missourian On an emotional night at Jackson High School, the Indians boys basketball team used a balanced attack to double up visiting Hillsboro 72-36 on Tuesday night...

Meadow Heights edged Delta on the road Tuesday night in a 72-68 shootout that featured 20 3-pointers. The Panthers had three players in double figures and hit 14 3-pointers. Terry Wagner led Meadow Heights with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Anthony Bollinger added 20 points with four 3-pointers and Michael Collier scored 18 with four three-pointers...

WASHINGTON -- Requests for emergency food and shelter increased in many large U.S. cities this year, but not by as much as in recent years, according to a survey released Tuesday. Requests for food rose by 14 percent, while appeals for shelter increased by 6 percent, said the annual report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, based on surveys of 27 large cities...

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Tiger Woods was atop the leaderboard going into the weekend and talking about how excited he was that everything was starting to come together. And then it all fell apart. This was Saturday at Sherwood. It looked no different from any other tournament this year...

TORONTO -- The NHL rejected last week's proposal by the players' association and then had its own counteroffer turned down Tuesday during a 3 1/2-hour negotiating session. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the offer made by the union last Thursday, which featured a 24-percent salary rollback, was a "big-time, significant and meaningful move" but was a short-term fix that wouldn't cure the league's financial troubles in the long run...

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings were convinced they wouldn't end this season like they did the last, when a 6-0 start was wiped out by a 3-7 finish. Well, they could be right. This season might be worse. Fresh off their fifth loss in seven games, the Vikings are 7-6 and coach Mike Tice's future is in question. For Minnesota's tortured football fans, these circumstances are hauntingly familiar. This franchise can surely compete with anyone in the disappointment department...

25 years ago: Dec. 15, 1979 R. Graham Wagoner, associate professor of industrial and technical education at Southeast Missouri State University, will retire May 16; he joined the faculty in 1949, the same year he earned his master of arts degree at the University of Northern Colorado...

Estes Ellis Proffer, 92, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., died Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004. He was born Aug. 13, 1912, in Cotton Plant, Ark., son of Willis Lawrence and Bird Estes Proffer of Cape Girardeau. Mr. Proffer graduated from Central High School in Cape Girardeau in 1930...

Grada M. "Babe" Naeter, 87, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at her home. She was born Feb. 4, 1917, in the state of Mississippi, daughter of Grady and Reba Harmon. She and Harry A. Naeter Jr. were married May 18, 1937, in Pinckneyville, Ill. He died Feb. 16, 1994...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Willie Finley Moore, 93, of Charleston died Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was born Sept. 17, 1911, in Deventer, Mo., daughter of Cyrus and Sadie Traylor. She and Thomas Byrd Moore were married Dec. 20, 1930. He died March 3, 1978...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Joe E. Noble, 67, of Chaffee died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at his home. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

Jeffrey A. Thomas, 40, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Grover Cleveland Crites, 89, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died Monday, Nov. 15, 2004, in Scottsdale. He was born May 4, 1915, son of Cleve and Rhoda Crites of Jackson. He married Helen Hard, who died Dec. 21, 1998. Crites was a graduate of Jackson High School and Southeast Missouri State University, and was an athlete at both schools. He coached football at Perryville and Advance, Mo., before moving to East St. Louis, Ill., where he was a coach, teacher and principal 31 years...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Lillian "Feedie" Braden, 72, of Sikeston died Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Sept. 17, 1932, in Sikeston, daughter of Lynn and Edith Jeanette Carter Ancell. She and Laurence P. Braden were married Nov. 20, 1954, in Chicago...

KELSO, Mo. -- Alvetta M. Peck, 72, of Paducah, Ky., died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at her home. Formerly of Kelso, she was the daughter of Charles W. and Laura Glasstetter Struwe. She married William A. Peck. Peck retired from Clausner Hosiery Mill. She was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Paducah...

Helen S. Barnes, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 13, 2004, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born May 8, 1907, daughter of John Isaac and Ida Schulz Sample. She first married Kenneth S. Chester in December 1964. He died in 1969. She later married Asa Barnes in 1973 in St. Augustine, Fla. He died in 1987...

Buxton; Preston; Pearson; Eldridge; Locke; Davey

American Legion Auxiliary; Xi Nu Phi; Town & Country FCE; American Legion Post 158; Cape Girardeau County AARP 4041; Laureate Alpha Rho; New McKendree UMW

Shots for those at risk; Freedoms lost; Conflict issues; Nothing downtown; Bow out now; Help during fire; Do it yourself; Let courts decide; The cold snap

To the editor: My mother-in-law, who is 91 years old, attended school at a one-room schoolhouse for the first eight years of her schooling. She later went on to earn her master's degree and experienced no problems in doing so. There were, she has told me, a minimum of 60 students in this one-room school throughout the eight-year period. ...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday to three figures who were central to his Iraq policy, former CIA director George Tenet, former Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer and retired Gen. Tommy Franks. Democrats suggested Bush should have looked elsewhere, at least in the case of Tenet, in awarding the government's highest civilian honor...

NEW YORK -- Pedro Martinez confirmed Tuesday that he has agreed to join the New York Mets. "I only hope to honor my contract and to fulfill the expectations," Martinez said on television in the Dominican Republic. "We got what we wanted. The team and I are happy with everything."...

WASHINGTON -- States that routinely deal with hurricanes and other natural disasters are better prepared than others to handle bioterrorism, but overall the nation is struggling to develop plans for public health emergencies. Florida and North Carolina, both familiar with evacuating residents and distributing emergency aid, received top rankings in a study by the private Trust for America's Health. ...

The Visiting Nurse Association will have a flu shot clinic at its office at 145 S. Mount Auburn Road from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday. According to the VNA, it has 200 doses of flu vaccine and will administer them until it runs out. Helen Sander of the VNA said the organization will follow guidelines set down by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventin: Vaccines will be given to people 65 and older; those age 2 and under with chronic health conditions affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, immune system or blood; pregnant women who will deliver between now and the end of March; breast-feeding mothers; children 6 to 23 months old; and health-care workers.. ...

Toybox Only one day remains before Santa delivers his holiday gifts to needy children in Cape Girardeau. But if Toybox doesn't get more donations, there won't be enough gifts for everyone. Toybox is a joint program of the Southeast Missourian and Cape Girardeau Jaycees that provides gifts to needy children up to age 12. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Monday: * At 6:22 p.m., emergency medical service in the 500 block of Boxwood Drive. * At 9:25 p.m., emergency medical service in the 800 block of Themis Street. * At 10;30 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1500 block of Water Street...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Tuesday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI * Johnny W. Dunger, 42, 530 Louis St., was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, driving on a revoked license, and other traffic offenses...

To the editor: Thanks to Bob Miller for being willing and able to tell the truth about the connection between thimerosal and neuro-developmental disorders in children. ROBERT KRAKOW, New York

To the editor: Did you know that Southern Baptists have the third largest volunteer program in America after the Salvation Army and the Red Cross? In response to the devastation in the wake of hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, more than 7,000 Southern Baptists descended on the affected areas of the southeastern part of the United States...

To the editor: Mercury toxicity is implicated in autism, but it is unwise to ignore the damage it does to all humans. The autism link is only a smokescreen. www.IAOMT.org demonstrates the destruction of neurons with thimerosal content typical of one flu shot. ...

WASHINGTON -- America's trade deficit swelled to an all-time high of $55.5 billion in October as imports -- including those from China -- surged to the loftiest levels on record. Skyrocketing crude-oil prices also contributed to the yawning trade gap...

You don't have to drive far in Southeast Missouri to see some brilliant holiday light displays. From Cape County Park North to lights wrapped around porch poles, the holiday season is shining bright across Cape Girardeau County and the surrounding area...

A newspaper in Scotland recently carried a story about a shopkeeper who used shortbread to make short work of a would-be robber. * When the hooligan pulled a knife on her, she dispatched him wielding a four pound tin of Walker's shortbread, which she threw at him as he fled the premises...

By Larry Kudlow Co-host of CNBC's "Kudlow & Cramer" CEO of Kudlow & Co., an economic and investment research firm NEW YORK CITY -- If the economy's so bad, why is it so good? Crashing dollar, twin deficits, rising gold, foreigners selling our assets -- the list goes on and on for members of the negative and pessimist mainstream media. But unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the rest of us, the economy is in excellent shape...

Scott County tax liens and lien discharges recorded at the office of Tom Dirnberger, Scott County recorder of deeds, during the month of November are filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue except as indicated by IRS designation. For information concerning the dollar amount of the liens, contact the recorder's office at 545-3551...

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI BENTON Holland Photography has opened at 172 S. Winchester. The owners are Lee and Michelle Holland. CAPE GIRARDEAU The Golden Needle Sew & Vac Center has opened at 330 S. Kingshighway. The owner is Sheryl Winschel. Krieger's -- Your Hometown Sports Grill has opened at Merriwether and Leming streets. The owner is Mark VanMatre...

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI Wanda Duncan with Realty Executives of Cape Girardeau County has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation designation by the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council Inc. of the National Association of Realtors. She has also received the Graduate of Realtor Institute and Senior Real Estate Specialist designations...

Cape Girardeau County tax liens and lien discharges recorded at the office of Janet Robert, Cape Girardeau County recorder of deeds, during the month of November. For more information contact the recorder's office at 243-8123. TAX LIENS AGAINST: Americana Companies Inc...

25 new holiday merchants Business Today The holiday season is a growing season for Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau. Shoppers can see a plethora of seasonal shops sprouting up all over the shopping center grounds, peddling a variety of wares. This year there are 25 new shops and vendors in the mall strictly for the holiday season...

In my book, China has become on of the most affordable and exotic trips of the year. Most people do not realize how affordable and easy traveling to China has become. The average eight-day trip in a budget hotel runs about $1,200 per person up to luxury hotels at $1,500 per person with all airfare, transfers, guides, everything you need except food...

Business Today POPLAR BLUFF -- The $7,200 cost of an engineering study for a bypass to the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park will be split between the city and Butler County. City Manager Doug Bagby told Poplar Bluff City Council members Dec. 6 that he has added $3,600 to the budget of Poplar Bluff Industries, Inc., the industrial division of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce...

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI Melonie Jackson has been named branch sales manager at Union Planters Bank in Cape Girardeau. Nichole Buehrle has been hired as progress manager at Sylvan Learning Center in Cape Girardeau. Philip Moore has been named retail lender at Union Planters Bank in Cape Girardeau...

By Jill Bock Special to Business Today SIKESTON - You know they are there. Tucked in shoe boxes or sitting on the shelf and yes, admit it, still unprocessed rolls of film. Those family pictures just waiting to be organized. Vicki Burdin understands. There was a time when photos of her family had accumulated. In 2001, she decided to put them together in a scrapbook, add a few embellishments, some journaling - and ever since, she has been hooked...

Big River Telephone Co. has announced a $28,500 grant has been awarded to Saxony Lutheran High School in Fruitland. The grant provides $9,500 per year for high-speed Internet access to the school for a three-year period. The high-speed Internet access will be used primarily by the students for educational purposes, but will also be available to the faculty and staff for other administrative needs. ...

BANKRUPTCIES Bankruptcies filed through Dec. 10 for the Southeastern Division of the Eastern District of Missouri's U.S. Bankruptcy Court are listed below with their corresponding case number. The Southeastern Division includes the counties of Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne. Court is held in Cape Girardeau...

Also own two Steak-N-Shakes Business Today POPLAR BLUFF -- CiCi's Pizza recently opened at Valley Plaza Shopping Center. The restaurant is part of a Texas-based national chain known for its pizza and dessert buffets. The restaurant is the ninth pizza franchise venture for owners Chip and Debbie Peterson, who also own the Steak-N-Shake restaurants in Poplar Bluff and Farmington...

Findings from an Internet survey indicate future farm success will involve farmers and ranchers and their cooperatives knowing how to effectively manage the Internet for marketing. That was the sentiment registered by 86 percent of individuals responding to an on-line survey conducted by National Farmers Union, a general farm organization representing more than a quarter of a million farm families nationwide and headquartered in metro Denver...

CNET News.com U.S. consumers spent $8.8 billion in online stores during November, up 19 percent compared with the same period last year, according to a report released Dec. 6. The Holiday eSpending report, prepared by Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen/NetRatings, excludes travel bookings. The findings are comparable to those of a recent study released by ComScore networks...

As the end of the year approaches, we should be thinking about setting some time aside for some planning for the next year. Start with a SWOT analysis -- identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. These factors can be identified by the organization as a whole, the departments within an organization or even by individual members of the organization. One may need to ask outside vendors and customers for their take on this in regard to the organization...

'Tis more blessed to give than receive. Especially when charitable remainder unitrusts are involved. Properly set up and administered, a charitable unitrust makes benefactors the beneficiaries - of reduced tax bills, periodic income, and perhaps even improved cash flow - while still allowing them to leave a legacy of at least 10 percent to the charities of their choice...

Business Today Jackson Chamber of Commerce executive director Ken Parrett is stepping down from the position March 31, he announced in late November. Parrett is moving to Poplar Bluff where his wife accepted a regional administrative position with the Missouri Division of Youth Services...

Business Today Richard Montgomery, chairman of the board of Americare and Montgomery Bank, both headquartered in Sikeston, recently received the Missourian Award, which recognizes outstanding and accomplished residents of the state. Since the award was first presented by the Missouri Awards Program in 1994, 79 people have received the honor...

Business Today The Postal Service has expanded its carrier facilities in Cape Girardeau with the leasing of an additional building at 905 Enterprise. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., who handled the lease transaction, said the Post Office leased the nearly 6,000-square-foot building to alleviate overcrowding at the current processing center at 475 Kell Farm Drive...

Business Today JEFFERSON CITY -- One of Matt Blunt's first official acts following his inauguration as governor will be to undo current Gov. Bob Holden's controversial executive order granting collective bargaining power to most state employees. "He intends to repeal that executive order on his first day in office," said Spence Jackson, Blunt's spokesman...

Business Today POPLAR BLUFF -- Agriculture-related businesses and organizations in the Southeast Missouri region are gearing up for Ag Expo 2005, which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff on Jan. 14 and 15. The two-day event, which drew in about 12,000 people last year, will feature 118 booths, outdoor exhibits and contests to help the public learn about agriculture and have some fun while doing it. ...

Business Today KENNETT -- In October city officials received word the city had been selected as the site of one of seven Department of Corrections Community Supervision Centers being built in Missouri. A team headed by Paul Caspari, assistant division director, community corrections, with the Department of Corrections was recently in Kennett for a meeting with local officials...

Business Today PERRYVILLE -- JCS/TEL-LINK held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 30, at its new Perryville location. This marks the company's fourth location. The other three are in Cape Girardeau, and Chester and Anna in Illinois. The store is at the new Crossroads Plaza, 1418 West St. Joseph, Suite 60...

Business Today Crossroads Shopping Center, at Independence Street and Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, is now under new ownership. David Donely of Commercial Real Estate Specialist has announced that he and his company has brokered a deal that transfers ownership of the 20,600-square-foot shopping center and several surrounding buildings from longtime owners Rock and Judy Wilferth to his wife, Sandy McLane Donely...

JEFFERSON CITY -- A former Pemiscot County man has been appointed chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission by Governor-elect Matt Blunt. Jeff Davis, who had been appointed to the commission by Gov. Bob Holden in April 2004, will now head the five-member panel...

By David Silverberg Special to Business Today POPLAR BLUFF -- To handle a tremendous increase in business, Insta Print is undergoing an extensive remodeling project and has installed a new press. "Our volume has increased 10-fold in the past year and we felt a need to improve our press capacity to accommodate the increased volume," said Don Schrieber, publisher of the Daily American Republic. "The new press will allow us to turn jobs around faster for the customer...

By John Graham What's so special about January 1 of a new year? While one year flows into the next without regard to a calendar change, the start of a new year is still very much of what can be called a refocus event. There are "the business planners," those who feel that they need a road map for the upcoming 12 months. ...

Sources: Microsoft and CNET News.com staff research Two-plus decades have brought major changes to the PC industry. Here's a glimpse at some of the significant events: 1981 * IBM announces the 5150 PC, ranging from $1,565 to $4,500. 1982 * Commodore announces the Commodore 64 microcomputer...

One of the keys to running a successful small business or home office is learning to control costs. Even the smallest expenses can quickly add up and cut into profits, leaving you with a business that won't move forward. Many small-business owners know where their money comes from, but are not as clear on where it goes. This can have a significant impact on their businesses' cash flow...

Advertising department revamps Business Today After 46 years in the newspaper business, the Southeast Missourian's Irvin Landewee has retired as the paper's national advertising accounts manager. His departure set in motion a slight reshuffling of personnel at the Cape Girardeau newspaper office...