Stories from Wednesday, February 8, 2006

A six-month investigation into illegal prescription drug sales in Perry County ended Tuesday, resulting in charges against five people. Four Perryville, Mo., residents were arrested and a fifth person was being sought as a result of the Perry County sheriff's department and Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force's operation, according to a news release from the sheriff's office...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has hired Old Town Cape executive director Tim Arbeiter to fill the new position of vice president of community development. Arbeiter will begin his new job in 90 days. Meanwhile, Old Town Cape's board of directors has begun a national search to hire a new executive director...

Steve Baldwin, a Cape Girardeau native and engineer for Union Pacific railroad said safety is his passion. "It all boils down to safety, and if we can save one life, then I think we've done our job," he said. That is why Baldwin uses his free time to educate people about railway safety and the importance of what he calls the three Ls, "Look, Listen and Live."...

I've been experiencing some modern angst lately. Some digital discomfit. A case of high-tech hypertension. A fit of E-Unease. OK, I'll stop and try to explain myself. First, let me explain the problem. I graduated from college in 2004 and took a job that required me to spend more than a year in Africa. I came home in October and was lucky enough to land this job reporting for the Southeast Missourian not long after...

The Notre Dame boys basketball team recorded its 20th victory Tuesday night, improving to 20-2 with an 81-50 victory at Kennett. Notre Dame, ranked No. 5 in the state's Class 4 poll this week, sprinted to a 24-12 lead after one period and stretched the advantage to 71-40 after three quarters...

PITTSBURGH -- Some fans waited 26 years for this Super Bowl celebratory parade. Others were too young to remember the Pittsburgh Steelers' last championship. Some weren't even born. It didn't matter Tuesday as fans of all ages jammed a mile-long parade route -- 10 or more people deep in many spots -- to thank the team for securing the long-sought fifth Super Bowl win...

NEW YORK -- Nobody turns off the microphone on Mick Jagger without a fight. Censorship of their songs during the Super Bowl halftime show was "absolutely ridiculous and completely unnecessary," the Rolling Stones said through a spokeswoman on Tuesday...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Valley Authority says it will reduce its long-term debt by $7.8 billion over the next decade, indicating a more aggressive attempt than last year to get its finances in order. That forecast objective, contained in President Bush's $2.77 trillion budget proposal released Monday, is "to position TVA for a more competitive electricity market and achieve a more sound business risk profile," TVA officials said...

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is offering buyouts of $100,000 each to workers who lose their jobs to plant closures if they agree to give up all benefits except their pensions. The severance option is among five being proposed to workers as Ford moves ahead with its plan to close 14 plants by 2012, a move that will affect roughly 30,000 employees...

SAN FRANCISCO -- The convicted ringleader in the BALCO doping scandal settled a defamation lawsuit brought by track star Marion Jones over allegations that she used banned performance-enhancing drugs, a lawyer in the case said Tuesday. Jones settled her $25 million suit in U.S. District Court here Monday against Victor Conte, who's serving a four-month prison term for his role in the steroid scandal...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- International peacekeepers clashed Tuesday with Afghans protesting drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, leaving three demonstrators dead and prompting NATO to send reinforcements to a remote northern city. Senior Afghan officials said al-Qaida and the Taliban could be exploiting anger over the cartoons to incite violence, which spread to at least six cities in a second day of bloody unrest in Afghanistan...

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- J.J. Redick banished a career full of poor individual efforts against Duke's biggest rival with a virtuoso performance that's becoming all too familiar. The shooting star had 22 of his 35 points in the second half, freshman Josh McRoberts added a season-high 17 points and the second-ranked Blue Devils held off No. 23 North Carolina 87-83 Tuesday night...

The NFL defended the officiating in the Super Bowl, and Joe Montana defended himself. Two days after the Steelers beat the Seahawks 21-10 in the NFL title game, the league said Tuesday that the game was "properly officiated." "Including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement...

Two years ago, planning to build an arterial road to connect Center Junction with a proposed I-55 interchange to the north would have sounded preposterous. The East Main Street interchange between Jackson and Cape Girardeau was not much more than a gleam in the eyes of Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County and Southeast Missouri State University until last August, when federal legislators put $10.8 million for the project into a the federal highway bill...

To the editor: The cover page of the recent Washington Post national weekly edition depicts a caricature of Alan Greenspan with the headline "The Greenspan Paradox: On His Watch at the Fed, Americans Prospered But Fell Deeper in Debt." The equation is simple. Prosperity has been funded by a virtually insurmountable mountain of debt. Who signed the note?...

To the editor: Wages are so bad. They need to be at least $10 an hour, but employers resist wage increases with every trick they can think of and every ounce of strength they can summon. I grew up hearing over and over that hard work was the secret of success, work hard and you'll get ahead or it's hard work that got us where we are. No one ever said you could work harder than you ever thought possible and still find yourself sinking deeper into poverty and debt...

To the editor: Senate Bill 823, sponsored by state Sen. David Klindt, Bethany, would extend attorney-client privilege to insurance companies. I believe it is wrong to bestow upon insurance companies the same privilege Missouri law gives our physicians and clergy...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New Year's resolutions to slim down and eat more healthfully might seem to preclude the idea of fine dining. Far from it: There are dishes within reach whose eye-appeal and rich flavor qualify them for entertaining, let alone healthful, everyday meals...

George W. Eaker Sr., 91, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Nov. 21, 1914, in Dunklin County, Mo., son of the late Noah Adam and Ollie Shelton Eaker. He and Lora Lee Eaker were married July 25, 1935, in Bloomfield, Mo...

Stella Marie Welker, 85, of Jackson passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at her home. She was born March 3, 1920, at Leopold, Mo., daughter of the late John and Bernadine Brauer Brands. When she was a young girl, her family relocated to Portageville, Mo., where she attended the former St. Eustachius Catholic School. She worked at the old Saint Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau from 1940 to 1947...

Matthew J. "Matt" Peters of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at his home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 24, 1936, in Leopold, Mo., a son of the late Theodore and Catherine Hinkebein Peters. He and Mary M. "Maggie" Dohogne were married Sept. 27, 1969, in Chaffee, Mo...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Noel Merit Glenn, 87, of Zalma died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at his home. He was born Sept. 7, 1918, at Leora, Mo., son of Frank and Bertha Williamson Glenn. He and Violet Stroup were married in 1930 at Kinder, Mo. She died in 1991. He later married Lorene Lemons June 28, 1993, at Duck Creek...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Kevin M. Casey, 58, of Cairo died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at Daystar Care Center. He was born July 22, 1947, in Chicago, son of Eugene and Theresa Sima Casey. Casey was a commercial photographer. Survivors include a sister, Grace LeVander of Stamford, Conn...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Burlin L. Payne, 69, of Cairo died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at his home. He was born June 28, 1936, in Cairo, son of Willis and Violet Sturgeon Payne. He was a retired painter. Survivors include four sons, Clinton Payne of Mound City, Ill., John and Troy Payne and Jeff Harrell, all of Paducah, Ky.; a sister, Jane Fye of Gainesville, Fla.; a brother, Robert Payne of Henderson, Ky.; and several grandchildren...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Roger Kirk, 86, of New Madrid died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. He was born April 19, 1919, in Decatur, Tenn., son of James and Tinnie Mae Jennings Kirk. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, Jim and Sallie Belle Bowman. He and Mary Jane Woolridge were married Oct. 27, 1944, in Fontmell Magna, England...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Richard Lee Mullins, 51, of Portageville died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at his home. He was born March 21, 1955, in Cape Girardeau, son of Richard and Dorothy Lenora Hardin Mullins. He and Sandra Silman were married Aug. 28, 1981, at Portageville...

Virginia J. Rumfet, 81, of Jackson died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 at the Kindred Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete with McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Dora L. Smith, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

25 years ago: Feb. 8, 1981 Central High School Appreciation Day is observed at First Assembly of God Church; members of Cape Girardeau Central High School Chamber Choir, directed by Judy Williams, are honored guests; recognition is also given to the faculty, staff and administration of Central High...

Cultural morass; Volunteers in Iraq; Not a rosy city; Doesn't sound true; Speech reaction; Fountain improvements; Simple answer; Alternative fuels

Progressive Club; Lamplighters FCE; Westview Lodge 103

Burton...

ANNA, Ill. -- Carl E. Phillips, 88, of Anna died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at Union County Hospital. He was born Jan. 31, 1917, in Union County, Ill., son of George Henry and Molly McNew Phillips. He married Aleen "Flo" Phillips, who preceded him in death...

After a few weeks of no mail, this week I have several pieces to share with you and a couple of recipe requests. This column is so much more fun and interesting when you, the readers, send in recipes to pass along to other recipe collectors and readers. It is easy to get recipes to us. Regular mail or e-mail gets them to us and we would love to hear from you...

When gardeners grow roses, they fertilize with a rose food that is specifically designed to produce vigorous bushes with lots of blooms. Azalea gardeners not only want a fertilizer that produces vigorous bushes with lots of blooms, but they also want a fertilizer that keeps the soil "pH" acidic. In both cases these gardeners look for a special rose food or an azalea food on the market...

ORAN, Mo. -- A group of business owners in Oran says Police Chief Marc Tragesser is ruining the small town's economy. Representatives of the Oran Business Betterment Association, made up of 28 business owners, attended Tuesday night's city council meeting. The group requested the council go into closed session to discuss the chief, talking behind closed doors for about an hour...

BENTON, Mo. -- Former Chaffee city court clerk Robin Dannenmueller turned herself in to the Scott County Sheriff's Department Tuesday, one day after charges were filed against her for felony stealing. Dannenmueller was released on $4,000 bond. The 35-year-old daughter of city council member Bob Sullivan is accused of stealing $1,000 in city court funds...

Southeast Missouri State University will keep its current food service. The university awarded a new, 10-year, $3.7 million contract to Chartwells Educational Dining Services, school officials said Tuesday. The company has operated the food service at Southeast since June 1999. The old contract expires on May 31...

Last night the Missouri State Government Review Commission met in Jefferson City for a dinner with Gov. Matt Blunt and a discussion of implementation of the commission's recommendations. Blunt has executed a number of the recommendations by executive order, but to date there has been little legislative activity on the 84 proposals...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

LITHONIA, Ga. -- When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson didn't attend his funeral, choosing instead to meet with his Cabinet about the Vietnam War. But at services for Coretta Scott King, four U.S. presidents took turns Tuesday saluting "the first lady of the civil rights movement" for her efforts over 40 years to realize her husband's dream of racial equality...

Bush plan would trim Social Security survivor benefits...

Here's a dessert that's on a different planet from your usual chocolate pudding. Six simple ingredients whisked together and a few minutes' work go into this version of a classic chilled chocolate dessert -- pots de creme. That translates literally, of course, as pots of cream. Although these rich little custard dishes come in basic vanilla, a favorite variation is chocolate, as in the following version with the extra burst of coffee flavor indicated by the "mocha" in its name...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Gunmen assassinated a Sunni community leader Tuesday in the former extremist stronghold of Fallujah -- part of an insurgent campaign to prevent prominent Sunni Arabs from joining the U.S.-backed political process. Bombs and bullets killed at least 11 other people, including four Marines who died in a pair of bombings in western Anbar province...

EWING, N.J. -- Wayne Gretzky's wife and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets -- but not on hockey -- with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, authorities said Tuesday. At the request of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Tocchet did not attend the Coyotes' game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. ...

NEW YORK -- When it comes to scoring points, Michael Jordan is an expert. So he couldn't help but delight in Kobe Bryant putting up 81 and a New York high schooler going wild for 113. Still, Jordan insisted things would have been a bit different if he'd been guarding Bryant...

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Soon after scientists landed by helicopter in the mist-shrouded mountains of one of Indonesia's most remote provinces, they stumbled on a primitive egg-laying mammal that simply allowed itself to be picked up and brought to their field camp...

CAIRO, Ill. -- City officials have not replied as required by law to two open-record requests from the Southeast Missourian, sent via e-mail in January. The requests, directed to city clerk Debran Sudduth, have been turned over to city attorney Michael O'Shea. The requests were sent Jan. 18 and Jan. 25. The Illinois Freedom of Information Law requires a written response to records requests within seven working days...

CHICAGO -- Boeing Co. chief executive officer James McNerney voiced concern Tuesday about the absence of new orders for the company's C-17 military transport plane in the proposed Defense Department budget for fiscal 2007. Overall, however, McNerney said the company's other major military contracting programs are "well-supported" by a budget that would increase U.S. defense spending by 6.9 percent...

WACO, Texas -- Curtis Jerrells took advantage of his opportunities. And that led to another Baylor victory. The freshman guard scored a career-high 28 points, hitting five-of-six 3-pointers, to lead Baylor to a 90-64 win over Missouri on Tuesday. "When you knock down a few of them, you get confident," said Jerrells, who went 11-of-14 from the field. "Once you see another opportunity, you just take it."...

WASHINGTON -- The District of Columbia Council rejected a lease for the Washington Nationals' new ballpark on Tuesday, leaving the Washington government and Major League Baseball headed to arbitration. The council voted 8-5 against approving the lease...

As the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball season heads into the home stretch, the chase for the regular-season title has basically been pared down to two teams. Murray State, the preseason favorite, leads the way with a 13-2 OVC record, part of a 16-5 overall mark for the Racers, who are the conference's hottest squad with six straight victories...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Flight crew errors probably caused a 2004 Hendrick Motorsports plane crash that killed 10 people with ties to one of NASCAR's top racing families, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. The crew improperly read instruments and missed a landing approach to Blue Ridge Airport in Martinsville, Va., the NTSB said in a report synopsis e-mailed to The Associated Press. ...

The heated boys basketball rivalry between Central and Jackson had been a bit one-sided of late. Jackson defeated Central four times in four meetings last year, and defeated the Tigers in the opening round of the district tournament each of the past two years...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri women's basketball team knows there's no shame in shooting for second. The Tigers are the school's success story on the court, overachieving while the men have struggled around the .500 mark. The women had been unbeaten in 11 home games before losing to conference-leading Oklahoma on Saturday, a victory that propelled the Sooners into the Top 10 and gave them a three-game lead with only seven games to go...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo public employees face a loss of health insurance coverage unless the city acts quickly to pay overdue premiums, Mayor Paul Farris said Tuesday. Despite the warning, members of the City Council refused in a special meeting to consider a proposal to borrow $136,000 against revenue from the coming year to pay the bill...