Stories from Sunday, September 18, 2005

Farmall. John Deere. Allis Chalmers. Massey Ferguson. Ford. The names resonate a proud nostalgia for Bob Haggett. At Egypt Mills Antique Tractor Club's exhibit at the SEMO District Fair, Haggett walked among the orange, red and green steel machines, pointing out the history of each...

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to spend over $9 million to repair Cape Girardeau's floodwall and upgrade two pumping stations over the next several years. But federal officials say there's no reason to panic. This isn't New Orleans, where Hurricane Katrina caused levees to break. The concrete wall that runs along Cape Girardeau's riverfront should continue to keep Mississippi River floodwaters from swamping the city's downtown as it has for nearly half a century, federal officials said...

Critics say the operation is way too risky for something that is not a matter of life or death. CLEVELAND -- In the next few weeks, five men and seven women will secretly visit the Cleveland Clinic to interview for the chance to have a radical operation that's never been tried anywhere...

Value is in the eye of the bidder when old junk sells for a lot of money. Hundreds of bargain shoppers milled around the Cape Girardeau auction on Saturday at the former public works building. The auction ran until early evening. "We sold everything we had," said C.T. Hendricks, fleet coordinator of the Public Works Department. More than $46,000 was raised...

Kaelin is a member of the Cardinals cheerleading squad. Jennifer Kaelin used to wonder what it would be like to be cheer on the sideline during a St. Louis Rams football game. Today she will get that opportunity. The 20-year-old Cape Girardeau native will take the field this afternoon as an Arizona Cardinals cheerleader when the Rams visit for the first of two meetings between the two NFC West teams...

Central brought out the welcome mat on Saturday as it hosted its lone regular season cross country meet. The Tigers made sure to keep most of the trophies for themselves, though, bringing home titles in both the boys and girls varsity races on a day dominated by the Tigers...

St. Louis' magic number hit zero with a 5-1 victory against the Cubs. CHICAGO -- They waited two days to celebrate their National League Central championship and then the St. Louis Cardinals cut loose. In a wild and raucous clubhouse with champagne and beer flowing and spraying, the Cardinals doused one another and toasted a title they had actually clinched Thursday...

Cape Girardeau Notre Dame manager Jeff Graviett told freshman Britney Schott that she would have three chances to get a bunt down with the game on the line against St. Louis Notre Dame on Saturday in the third-place contest in the Jackson Invitational Softball Tournament at Shawnee Park Sports Complex...

CUMBERLAND, Md. -- Deep in the Brush Tunnel, with coal smoke and steam filling the air, there is scant light in the open cab of Engine No. 734. The locomotive's large, round pressure gauge glows dimly, flanked by two bulbs barely illuminating a pair of water meters...

NEW YORK -- Teri Hatcher is hiding her gray hair -- and she's not shy about talking about it. Hatcher, the Emmy-nominated star of "Desperate Housewives," is the new spokeswoman for Clairol's Nice 'n Easy hair color. The natural brunette, with a gray spot that she's had since she was 25 right in the middle, uses medium golden brown...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- On a Friday night early in the fall semester, the opportunities for drunken debauchery in this college town can tempt even the most temperate of underage undergrads. At Shiloh Bar & Grill near the University of Missouri-Columbia, Bacardi Girls beckon with belly button rings and shots of rum in test tubes as a pair of midget Elvis impersonators linger nearby...

The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri charity accused of having ties to international terrorists has lost its bid to have its assets unfrozen. In throwing out the lawsuit, a federal judge in Washington ruled Thursday that the Islamic American Relief Agency-USA financed terrorism and is connected to a similarly named Sudanese charity, the Islamic African Relief Agency. That group is accused of supporting al-Qaida and its predecessor, Maktab al-Khidamat...

HERMITAGE, Mo. -- A Butler man drowned Saturday afternoon while swimming with his daughter at Hermitage State Park, the Missouri Water Patrol said. Gary Junge, 47, and his daughter were at the park's swim beach on Pomme De Terre when his daughter saw him bobbing up and down in the water and realized he was in trouble. She asked bystanders to call 911. His body was recovered about an hour later in 7 feet of water...

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller share the same small house, tiny bathroom and even the same office. But not always the same opinion. The Southeast Missourian sweethearts offer their views on every-day issues, told from two different perspectives...

Cape Girardeau...

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Justin Forsett ran for a career-high 187 yards and two touchdowns, and Tim Mixon returned a fourth-quarter punt 79 yards for a score during 15th-ranked California's impressive second-half rally for a 35-20 victory over Illinois on Saturday...

TOWNSEND, Tenn. -- Nineteenth-century farms, black bears and a pastoral landscape surrounded by the Appalachian mountains have made picturesque Cades Cove the most popular destination in the country's most-visited national park. More than 2 million visitors a year flock to this 6,500-acre valley at the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, making it one of the most heavily used park areas anywhere in the United States...

Thanks to an in-depth investigation by The Associated Press, we now know that millions -- if not billions -- of dollars in government-guaranteed loans intended for small businesses affected by the 9-11 attacks went instead to businesses that had no connection with the terrorists' attacks...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: * At 5:27 p.m., carbon monoxide alarm at 2101 Timothy Circle. * At 10:27 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1900 block of Briarwood Drive. Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday:...

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Some may have called it monkeying around, but school officials didn't find the stunt amusing. A 17-year-old student was arrested Monday after streaking through his high school wearing only a gorilla mask and outrunning the school principal...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- When school lets out at Weaver Elementary, a crush of cars forms to pick up children. But inside the cafeteria, Julie Sigloch, Susan Hayes and Cindy Schaeffer are lining up a fleet of feet, more than 30 students who've signed up for a route with Weaver's Walking School Bus. "Drivers" wear bright vests and carefully check off the names of their "riders" on attendance sheets...

Ted and Jackie Givens of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th anniversary Aug. 27, 2005, at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church. The dinner and reception was hosted by their daughters and sons-in-law, Kim and Rick Freed and Tammy and Jack Huckstep...

ANNA, Ill. -- Collin W. Brown, 86, of Anna died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at his home. He was born May 19, 1919, in Anna, son of Henry and Elizabeth Messamore Brown. He and Janet Knight were married Sept. 24, 1938, in Jackson, Mo. She died April 20, 1994...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Larry "Rex" Seabaugh, 51, of Marble Hill died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at his home. He was born Sept. 24, 1953, at Scopus, Mo., son of Truman Dayton and Wilma I.V.D. Crites Seabaugh. He and Wanda Long were married in 1976. In 1986 he married Brenda Hughes...

STUART, Fla.-- Mary Beth Bacon, 43, of Stuart, formerly of Anna, Ill., died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005, at Stuart. She was born Dec. 17, 1961, daughter of Tom and Kay Bacon of Anna. Bacon was a nurse. Survivors include her parents of Anna; and a sister, Martha Bacon of St. Augustine, Fla...

Wulfers...

ANNA, Ill. -- Mike Corzine, 66, of Anna died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, at his home. He was born Oct. 2, 1938, at Anna, son of Don and Reva M. Cavitt Corzine. He and Shirley G. Yeckley were married Aug. 6, 1986, at Las Vegas, Nev. He retired from Egyptian Unit School District No. 5 after serving 35 years as teacher, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He was a member of Elks Lodge 1641 and served on the Union County Sheriff Merit Board...

Harold Eugene McFerron, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born Jan. 7, 1921, at Randles, son of Arthur F. and Lucy Beck McFerron. He and Helen Louise Ford were married Aug. 31, 1946, in Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Barbara Rose Vandeven, 88, of Chaffee died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 18, 1916, at Leopold, Mo., daughter of Herman and Mary Engelen Landewee. She and Clarence T. Vandeven were united in marriage on Feb. 26, 1938, at the St. John's Cath -olic Church in Leopold and he preceded her in death on March 20, 2001...

ANNA, Ill. -- Marie Peeler, 97, of Bonham, Texas, formerly of Anna, died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, at Oak Care Center in Bonham. She was born Sept. 18, 1907, at Dongola, Ill., daughter of Jacob and Isabelle Smoot. She and Raleigh Peeler were married March 13, 1926. He died Sept. 14, 1985...

Bob and Carol Jones of Cape Girardeau are observing their 50th anniversary today. The couple was married Sept. 18, 1955, in Lima, Ohio. The Jones have two children, Paula Thomas and Chris Jones; four grandchildren, Adam and Ivan Thomas, Heather and Colton Jones...

Robert and Viola Amschler of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Angela Rose Amschler, to S. Aaron Dombrowski. He is the son of Cord and Ann Dombrowski of Cape Girardeau. Amschler is a 1997 graduate of Notre Dame High School. She is a student at Trendsetters School of Cosmetology Inc...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mindy Marie Hudson and Todd David Welker were married June 25, 2005, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville. The Rev. Kevin Fausz performed the ceremony. Music was by the Kinnison Family of Perryville. The bride is the daughter of Steve Hudson of Carbondale, Ill., and Dianne Papin of Perryville. The groom is the son of David and Teri Welker of Perryville...

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Mayfield of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Elizabeth Mayfield, to Chance DeWayne McDowell. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McDowell of Cape Girardeau. Mayfield is a 2003 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Jackson Medical Center...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- David Lee Criddle, 66, of Perryville died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at St. Louis University Hospital. He was born April 10, 1939, at Jackson, son of Charles Bolin and Grace Matilda Moore Criddle. He and Patsy Jane McCanless were married Nov. 5, 1960, at Omaha, Neb...

Dennie Jo Litchfield of Peoria, Ill., announces the engagement of her daughter, Bernadette Marie Pavon, to Lloyd Lewis Cross, both of Jackson. He is the son of Genevia Skinner and Lewis Hamilton of Scott City. Pavon is also the daughter of the late Manuel Pavon...

Lisa Perry of Jackson and Jeff and Jayne Perry of Knoxville, Tenn., announce the engagement of their daughter, Carol Ann Perry, to Richard Alan Smith. He is the son of Linda and Bill Wooten and Stan and Tracy Smith, all of Jackson. Perry is a graduate of Jackson High School, and received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia...

Randy and Shirley Bohnert of Oak Ridge announce the engagement of their daughter, Stacy Lae Bohnert, to Scott Micheal Whitlock. He is the son of Christine Whitlock of Punta Gorda, Fla., and James Whitlock of Springfield, Mo. Bohnert is a 1997 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. She is employed by Manpower...

HARRISBURG, Ill. -- Jeremy Vincent Ferrell, 20, of Harrisburg died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at Harrisburg Medical Center. He was born Feb. 21, 1985, at Harrisburg, Ill., son of Greg Ferrell and Janice Cullers. Ferrell was a student. He was a member of Eldorado First Baptist Church...

Cape County FCE; Kage FCE Club; New Salem UMW

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Iris Lee Shumaker, 81, of Bell City passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was the only child of George N. and Ina Henderson Oakley; beloved wife of Dale Shumaker of Bell City; dear mother of the late Jeane Dale Anthony; dear mother-in-law of Fred W. ...

Need more experience; Self-help needed; Hey, that's where I live!; Employment advice; Moral ugliness; Sending help; Fashion pressure; Qualified judges; Blessings for all; Selfish thoughts; No to changes

To the editor: I have to address Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton's recently published remark blaming the lack of new oil refineries on the environmentalists who "want high gas prices because they don't want us driving cars and using oil." While the big oil companies cry that it costs so much to meet environmental requirements, they are crying all the way to the bank. ...

To the editor: During the North Carolina hurricane, the person in charge of the state's National Guard said state and city plans for such an event are clear and reviewed annually. He said he believed North Carolina was ready for the storm. And he said he had an excellent relationship with FEMA and that the governor would call for assistance if necessary. It was refreshing to hear someone not blame President Bush...

To the editor: I was one of the counterprotesters at Thursday's "progressive peace" rally. I would like to thank Sue Niederer for her kind actions to those who would disagree with her. After all, the ability to speak your own mind and offer your own opinions regardless of who may disagree is what makes this country great. For the most part, I can say the same about the attendees...

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Pinkston of Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Toole of Patton, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Anne Reed, to John Morgan Kiser. He is the son of Pauline Kiser of Summersville, W.Va. Reed is a 2002 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Saint Francis Medical Center...

Barry Knight of Paducah, Ky., returned to the winner's circle of a local triathlon Saturday by capturing the Trail of Tears event for the third straight year Saturday at Trail of Tears Park. Knight also has won four straight Steamboat Triathlons from 2000 to 2003. He finished the half-mile swim, 15-mile bicycle race and four-mile run in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 55 seconds...

25 years ago: Sept. 18, 1980 The U.S. Postal Service is studying possible expansion of the Jackson Post Office or construction of a new facility there because postal officials say more space is needed; the one-story brick post office at 125 E. Main St. has been in use for over 40 years; it was constructed in 1936...

Hoops time is near BASKETBALL SEASON is just around the corner. I enjoy driving down Sprigg Street and seeing the members of the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team running. This has become a tradition for me. Also, give Brandon Foust a break. Everybody deserves a second chance. Who among us is perfect? Some people can never be satisfied...

In places across the country that have predictable threats of disasters -- from hurricane- and quake-prone stretches of the coasts to tornado alleys in the Plains, from Northwest towns where volcanoes loom to busy cities where terrorists could strike -- talk has moved from the last big one to the next big one...

CHATHAM, Mass. -- Tropical Storm Ophelia rushed past southeastern Massachusetts with little effect on Saturday, piling waves 19 feet high well offshore but sparing Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod from damaging wind and rain. Meteorologists had predicted wind gusts up to 60 mph, minor flooding on Nantucket and torrential rain on Cape Cod, where about 200 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina are staying. Beachgoers were warned of possible riptides and boat owners secured their craft...

OZARK, Mo. -- Two people charged with injecting the former Macon County prosecutor with a lethal cocaine overdose have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the victim's estranged wife. The lawsuit, filed last month in Christian County Circuit Court, names another woman who had also been charged in the death of David Masters, 52. Prosecutors later dropped a murder charge against her in exchange for her cooperation...

CHICAGO -- Federal transportation inspectors were investigating the cause of a train derailment in Chicago Saturday that killed one passenger and injured more than 80 others. The double-decked commuter train carrying 185 passengers and four crew members was headed to Chicago from Joliet before 9 a.m. ...

BERLIN -- Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and challenger Angela Merkel kept on the road Saturday making election-eve appeals to undecided voters to back their competing visions for Germany's economic revitalization and foreign policy. Schroeder reminded voters of his opposition to the war in Iraq and his commitment to the social welfare system, while Merkel, a proponent of closer ties with Washington, said tax cuts and a looser government hand are needed to get the economy going...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State took its first lead of the season Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Redhawks, that was about the extent of the good news as they closed out their nonconference schedule with a mostly forgettable showing...

An 0-3 start to the season -- for the second straight year -- is not what Southeast Missouri State's football team had in mind. But, realistically, it's what was probably expected from the Redhawks, who for the second consecutive season were saddled with a brutal nonconference schedule...

WASHINGTON -- With chief justice-nominee John Roberts cruising toward confirmation, President Bush is turning his attention to a second vacancy on the nine-member Supreme Court. The president extended invitations Friday to key Senate leaders to meet at the White House next week to discuss the seat held by retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Several items come in twos at this brick home in the Meadow Heights School District in Bollinger County. There are two garages, two fireplaces and two kitchens. Both upstairs and downstairs have complete living units, and shade is plentiful both in front and back...

Hurricane Katrina has been, first and foremost, a human disaster -- a seemingly endless tale of suffering marked by lives lost, communities dispersed and families torn asunder. Our hearts go out to the hundreds of thousands of displaced people who are now struggling to piece some semblance of their lives back together...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues forward Keith Tkachuk failed a physical and was suspended Friday by the team. General manager Larry Pleau did not elaborate on the status of Tkachuk, but said he was expected to return to the team. The 33-year-old left wing had 33 goals and 38 assists in 2003-04, the last season before the lockout. He has scored 431 goals and added 401 assists in his career...

The Notre Dame boys soccer team outscored a pair of Kentucky opponents 12-0 on Saturday at the Kentucky Classic. Notre Dame (7-2-1) first knocked off Marshall County 3-0. Abe Dirnberger scored twice and Jack Wedemeier added a goal. Ty Williams, Dirnberger and Jason Delgado had assists. Nathan Kolda recorded the shutout...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A big day from special teams helped Missouri get its season back on track against the team that derailed the Tigers last year. Marcus Woods had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown and the Tigers also blocked a punt in a 52-21 victory Saturday against Troy...

They should be ashamed. We should be ashamed. We have not progressed much in 45 years it seems, and we appear to be traveling in the wrong direction. Article VI of the Constitution prohibits a religious test from being imposed on nominees to public office. ...

Editor's note: Southeast Missourian reporter Scott Moyers and photographer Don Frazier returned to Cape Girardeau last week after covering the cleanup efforts of the 1140th Engineer Battalion in New Orleans. Our olive-drab military truck was sloshing its way through New Orleans -- the parts where the tourists don't go -- when we saw him. ...

Amid applause and the flash of cameras, 8-year-old Chase Asmus of New Hamburg, Mo., showed off his winning calf, Buster, in the SEMO District Fair's parade of champions Saturday. What made Buster's blue ribbon remarkable is that the calf was able to walk at all...

The Southeast Missourian is interested in unique ideas for stories about pets and animals in general for a new feature series...