Stories from Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Two more defendants from a Hanover Street crack cocaine sting faced hearings on Monday at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson. One received probation, while the other awaits sentencing. Carolyn D. Barnes, 37, of 502 S. Hanover St., Apt. 2, was sentenced to five years probation on a suspended execution sentence of five years in prison...

A woman arrested Saturday for stealing painkillers from an elderly Cape Girardeau woman was out of jail awaiting sentencing on almost identical charges. Cynthia L. Koerner, 23, of 1543 Grandview Drive, was freed on bond Sunday after being charged with a single count of felony stealing. It was her third arrest since August, police spokesman Jason Selzer said, and detectives believe there may be other victims who haven't reported drug thefts...

The public will have the chance to encounter the Islamic religion at an inter-faith forum to be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Dr. Tashin Khalid and his wife, Naghma, will discuss their faith and some of the common misconceptions about it. The Rev. Robert A. Towner of Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau will discuss similarities he sees between Islam and his own faith...

Three members of Pi Kappa Alpha appeared in court on Monday for the first time on goat-napping allegations. Joseph M. Nickerson, 20, of Group K dorm, appeared with private attorney Malcolm Montgomery and pleaded not guilty. Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp set a hearing for Dec. ...

Bailey celebrated her 10th birthday with a friendly game of dodgeball at a Jackson fitness center last weekend. When it comes to your first double-digit birthday, you want to celebrate in style. For Bailey and her friends, that meant dividing up into teams and throwing rubber balls at each other...

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney and author Morley Swingle will address 703 graduating students at Southeast Missouri State University's commencement ceremony on Saturday. The ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Show Me Center. The graduating class includes 589 undergraduates and 114 graduate students...

SAN FRANCISCO -- In Matt Morris, the San Francisco Giants found the proven starter they've been coveting for months. Not to mention an individual with a classy reputation who believes he can lead a young pitching staff and learn from everybody else along the way, too...

Jackson native receives scholarship at MU...

WASHINGTON -- Hours after Japan ended a trade ban imposed because of mad cow disease, U.S. ranchers and meatpackers began rounding up their first shipment of beef to Japan. The shipment is to be sent Saturday from Denver, but the industry cautioned that trade will resume slowly...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals took a step toward rebuilding their bullpen, reaching a preliminary agreement on a $2.9 million, two-year contract with free agent pitcher Ricardo Rincon. The contract is contingent on the 35-year-old left-hander passing a physical. Rincon's agent, Dave Stewart, said his client chose the Cardinals over the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics...

Violence breaks out for second night in Sydney; U.S. envoy: Bin Laden may no longer control al-Qaida

Basketball; Colleges

Accountability in the nation's public schools has become a major industry. Tracking students' progress in key learning areas is supposed to give educators, parents and the government an indication of how well schools are performing. Of course, states are permitted to set their own standards, so a state with relaxed standards may show, through testing, that it is doing a better job than a state with tougher standards. Missouri is generally regarded as a "tougher standards" state...

Charleston, winners of 15 of the past 30 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournaments, will be the top seed in this year's boys basketball tournament which will begin Dec. 26 at the Show Me Center. The Blue Jays just edged out two-time defending champion Jackson at the seeding meeting which took place on Sunday. The Indians are seeded second, followed by Bell City, Central and Notre Dame...

The Delta girls basketball team led throughout as it remained unbeaten Monday night with a 56-41 home victory over Naylor. The Bobcats, who improved to 5-0, led 14-6 after one quarter and took a 25-16 lead into halftime. They took a 37-28 lead into the fourth quarter, where they pulled away...

To the editor: After reading Chris Siebert's letter regarding Mexicans coming into the United States illegally, I just have one comment. It is easy to make that comment while living in Cape Girardeau. Come to California, and then we'll see if you feel the same way...

To the editor: At this special time of year most of us are blessed that we can give and not forget. What I mean in giving is of yourself or contribute to those less fortunate, and for us not to forget the men and women who lost their lives for our freedom. Pray for them and their families at this special time of year. I am currently serving in Iraq and want to thank all my family and friends for myself and my family for the thoughts and prayers...

ATLANTA -- Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons served notice that they are still dangerous -- and not yet out of the playoff race. Vick ran for two touchdowns and passed for one score before a late hit knocked him out of the game with bruised ribs, and the Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints 36-17...

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Journalist and lawmaker Gibran Tueni, a relentless critic of Syria who spent months in France fearing assassination, was killed Monday in a car bombing -- only a day after returning to his homeland. A previously unknown group claimed responsibility, but suspicion quickly settled on Syria, where the state-controlled media has been highly critical of anti-Syrian reports by Lebanese journalists...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Armed with assault rifles, a group of men in black hoods walked through parts of the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi plastering walls with election posters. The men, who claimed to be insurgents, then raised a large banner supporting a Sunni Arab candidate. Standing next to them was a man, wearing no mask and carrying no weapon, holding up a poster for other Sunni candidates...

Finally listening; Bad practices; Student discrimination; Parents, butt out; Seasonal surprise; Free, with a bite; Teaching duty; Sharing our blessings; Give it all up; Support the flights; Light overload; Over the line

To the editor: As the project director for Missouri's Youth/Adult Alliance, a statewide coalition whose sole purpose is to reduce underage drinking, I would like to address the Dec. 4 story, "More seek trial under alcohol possession law." The new legislation was a step in the right direction. Reducing underage drinking should be everyone's concern, and our coalition was delighted to see the legislature taking on this tough battle...

Glenn D. Fulkerson, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 7, 1916, at Parma, Mo., son of James and Beulah Robertson Fulkerson. He and Zulema Harrington were married Aug. 28, 1942, at Charleston, Mo., and she preceded him in death on July 4, 2005...

To the editor: I am highly disappointed in the bills put forth by state Sen. John Loudon which would increase criminal penalties for certain offenders and by state Rep. Gary Dusenberg which would tag sex offenders with a special driver's license. As a criminology and criminal justice graduate student at the University of Missouri-St. ...

ORAN, Mo. -- Hazel Pearl McClelland, 91, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at McKnight Care Center, Presbyterian Homes in Arden Hills, Minn. She was born Aug. 12, 1914, at Dexter, Mo., daughter of Jiles William and Lillie Jane Hockersmith Jones. She married Homer Ray McClelland. He died Jan. 29, 1995...

The Rev. Carl Hanser, 71, of Glen Carbon, Ill., formerly of Jackson, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, at Edgewood Manor Hospice in Westerville, Ohio. He was born Jan. 13, 1934, in Edwardsville, Ill., son of Harry and Bernadine Huntman Hanser. He and Grace Thowe were married Nov. 7, 1959, in Alma, Kan...

DeWayne Strauser, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born March 16,1930, at Swinton, Mo., son of Doyle Franklin and Ina Jewell Davis Strauser. Mr. Strauser worked for Union Electric 39 years. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3838 and Eagles Aerie 3775...

To the editor: Recently I attended a Cape Girardeau County transportation hearing with optimistic hopes. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. A few glaring holes exist. Several things have to happen for public transportation to be feasible. First, you need a central dispatcher. This point is workable. Problem two, Southeast Missouri State University and Kelley Taxi Co. have to be a willing part of the plan...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Pearl Cantrell, 83, of Advance died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born July 10, 1922, at Walnut Ridge, Ark., daughter of Ed and Cora Rogers Jackson. She and Archie E. Cantrell were married Oct. 21, 1939, at Braggadocio, Mo. He died Sept. 9, 1995...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Norman Charles Ledbetter, 70, of Burkley, Ky., formerly of Mounds, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at his home. He was the son of Herschel C. and Jewel Lance Ledbetter. He married Sue Carol Dycus. Ledbetter retired from Burkart Foam in Cairo, Ill...

25 years ago: Dec. 13, 1980 Sue Nauert has been named employee of the year at Saint Francis Medical Center; Nauert joined the hospital staff in 1963 and since 1970 has been a critical care nurse, rising to the position of assistant coordinator of the center's three critical care units...

Southard; Gibbs; Stewart; Allred; Hampton; Jungers; Adams

TAMMS, Ill. -- Blaine "Bub" Milam, 46, of Tamms died at Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Lois Bowling, 79, of Bloomfield died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was born Oct. 7, 1926, in Dover, Ark., daughter of George Wilburn Sr. and Myrtle Ivy Vede Dell Rogers Haskins. She and James D. Bowling were married Oct. 25, 1941...

Joy H. Hoek, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Aug. 1, 1914, in Chelsea, Mich., daughter of Emmett and Eva Nutton Dancer. She and Victor P. Hoek were married in 1940 in Chelsea. He died in 1981. Hoek was a member of Burlingame United Church of Christ, and Cora Barber Guild of Butterworth Hospital Auxiliary...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Ray Noble, 65, of Chaffee died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at his home. He was born Aug. 5, 1940, in Cape Girardeau County, son of William "Curtis" and Fern Sullinger Noble. Noble was a 1958 graduate of Advance High School in Advance, Mo. He was a bridge construction worker...

Ruby Irene McLain, 89, of Scott City died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 28, 1916, in Redford, Mo., daughter of Richard and Sarah Stout Akins. She and Glenn Monroe McLain were married Sept. 18, 1937, at Ink, Mo. He died Sept. 14, 1998...

FENTON, Mo. -- It was a rare scene for today's automaking industry: executives and union leaders stood on the same stage and praised each other as DaimlerChrysler AG announced it will invest up to $1 billion in two Missouri factories. "In all these years, there's never been anything like this," Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock told a crowd of cheering employees at the factory during a ceremony Monday...

Scripps Howard News Service The Grammys have gotten better. Really. Ever since new nominating rules and committees were instituted in the 1990s, the nominations have been far more in touch with artistic merit and have gotten away from past problems of cronyism, schmaltz and just plain stupidity...

This week, check out: www.dana.org/kids, a Web site that dubs itself "Brainy Kids Online." The site offers children, parents and teachers science-related links to games, labs, science fair ideas, educational resources and lesson plans...

After the initial excitement over new toys fades, there's still about 264 hours of holiday vacation left. How do you fill them? That's the question many parents of school-age children face during days off from school, especially during the winter months when playing outside for hours may not be possible...

Monday marked the end of a nearly two-month vacation from work for Dawn Schaaf. But this vacation wasn't a time for relaxing -- it was a time of stress, worry, lack of sleep and also great joy. Her vacation was maternity leave, and after experiencing the ups and downs of being a new mother, Schaaf was eager to resume her life -- a life that has been changed forever...

Bad checks passed at Wal-Mart will no longer be turned over to the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office. Wal-Mart has adopted a national policy of using a private collection agency for bad checks written to the store after Nov. 17. "It will no longer be a crime to pass a bad check at Wal-Mart. They will handle it as a civil case," said Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney...

A prison guard got a view of life on the other side of the bars this weekend after Cape Girardeau police charged him with punching an officer. Tommy Tipler, 41, of 651 Napa Circle, was arrested Saturday after police responded to a domestic disturbance at his home. Officers pushed their way inside after a woman hollered from the window that Tipler would not allow her to open it, police spokesman Jason Selzer said...

WASHINGTON -- Oil prices will persist near or above $50 a barrel for years and force a shift to more fuel-efficient cars and alternative fuels, the government said Monday, discarding earlier predictions that costs would drop to around $30 a barrel. The Energy Department forecast was more positive on natural gas prices. ...

PHILADELPHIA -- In a rare, unscripted moment, President Bush on Monday estimated 30,000 Iraqis have died in the war, the first time he has publicly acknowledged the high price Iraqis have paid in the push for democracy. In the midst of a campaign to win support for the unpopular war, Bush unexpectedly invited questions from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia after a speech asserting that Iraq was making progress despite violence, flawed elections and other setbacks...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

HOUSTON -- Conventional wisdom said the first federal Vioxx trial was Merck & Co.'s to lose. The Florida man whose 2001 death of a heart attack lay at the center of the case took the once-popular painkiller for just a month. Richard "Dicky" Irvin got the prescription from his son-in-law without a medical checkup. His arteries were clogged by more than half in some places...

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England -- A fire raging at an oil depot in southern Britain sent toxic smoke as far away as France and caused jitters on the global oil market Monday as firefighters struggled into a third day to douse the flames with chemical foam...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams are sticking with rookie quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, despite his five-interception game on Sunday. Interim coach Joe Vitt said Monday that Fitzpatrick, the only Harvard quarterback in NFL history, will keep the job as long as Marc Bulger is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Bulger missed his third game in Sunday's 27-13 loss and may miss the rest of the season...

Toybox Mark, 2, is ready for toys to help him learn ABC's, numbers or how things fit, like puzzles. Board books or talking books are also ideal when it comes to amusing himself while his 6-month-old little brother, Matthew, takes a nap or his mom is giving him a bath. Matthew likes anything that lights up and makes noise. Infant toys like activity gyms that challenge an infant to make discoveries will help him keep up with his older brother...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A top Republican lawmaker plans to revive a proposal to distribute state money for higher education to individual students, who then could use the scholarships for public or private universities. House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, introduced a similar higher education voucher plan last year that used full-time enrollment figures at colleges to divide the money on a per-student basis. The bill received committee approval but never made it to the full House...

The filming of "Killshot" won't interrupt business in downtown Cape Girardeau right before Christmas after all. Producers have pushed the date of local filming, originally slated for Dec. 19 to 23, back to Jan. 9 to 12. Tim Arbeiter, executive director of Old Town Cape, said the shift in plans will have a two-fold benefit for downtown businesses. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Two days after another shaky outing, the St. Louis Blues on Monday waived goaltender Patrick Lalime. Lalime, 31, was expected to lend stability after years of revolving goalies. But he has struggled all season for the team with the NHL's worst record, going 3-11-4 with a 3.97 goals-against average -- 40th among 42 goalies. His .866 save percentage is the lowest of any goalie with 15 or more games played...

The tough-luck rookie season at Southeast Missouri State for David Johnson is almost certainly over. Johnson had hernia surgery last Tuesday, which will likely sideline him from six to eight weeks, meaning at best he would only be able to return for the final few games, and that wouldn't even take into account the conditioning needed when he did come back...

Jackson's girls basketball team has yet to play up to its capabilities, but thanks to a 50-38 victory at home on Monday against Perryville, the Indians will enter the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic with a 5-0 record. "Perryville's a good team, and Berkley's as athletic a team as we've ever played," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "We've had three or four hotly contested games and came out on top. There's no way I can say we're playing good basketball yet."...

A current Division II head coach and a former Division I-A head coach who now serves as a Division I-A assistant will be in Cape Girardeau this week to interview for the vacant head football coaching position at Southeast Missouri State. The university on Monday announced Missouri Western head coach Jerry Partridge and Purdue assistant Tony Samuel as two more finalists in the search to replace Tim Billings, who resigned after six seasons at Southeast...