Stories from Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Sikeston police reported a shooting incident early Tuesday morning on Davis Boulevard which left three people hospitalized. Details about the incident were incomplete in a news release issued Tuesday afternoon by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

Cape Girardeau County commissioners rejecting a proposal Tuesday to hire a paving program supervisor with funds from a new sales tax. County highway administrator Scott Bechtold asked for the supervisor, with a $35,000 annual salary, as well as $90,000 for new equipment to implement the paving plan...

A couple educated at Southeast Missouri State University when it was a small teachers college in the 1930s has bequeathed $1 million to the school. The gift came from the estate of James Harold and Lenore Osborne Paullus. It's one of the largest individual donations that the university has ever received, school officials said Tuesday...

Those who know soul food in Cape Girardeau know Rick and the Big Cat. They sound like a pair from a Hollywood buddy comedy and might even look the part, too. Rick Bond is the tall, silver-tongued smooth talker and Big Cat -- J.T. Green -- is, well, big, the soft-spoken, kind-hearted muscle of the duo...

McCLURE, Ill. -- A McClure fire that claimed the life of a 79-year-old man is still under investigation, said McClure-East Cape Fire District chief Stanley Mouser Tuesday. Mouser said firefighters responded to a call at about 9 a.m. Saturday at the junction of Highway 146 and Highway 3...

Students at the Catholic Campus Ministry at Southeast Missouri State University have endowed a scholarship in honor of the Rev. John Francis Friedel, who served as director and chaplain of the ministry from 1993 through summer 2006. The scholarship will be awarded to students who are practicing Catholics, have a history of leadership in church or school or graduated from Christian Brothers San Miguel Schools...

NEW YORK -- New York on Tuesday became the first city in the nation to ban artery-clogging trans fats at restaurants, leading the charge to limit consumption of an ingredient linked to heart disease and used in everything from french fries to pizza dough to pancake mix...

NEW YORK -- Finally pulled free from the Hudson River bottom, the historic aircraft carrier USS Intrepid was on the move again Tuesday, passing majestically through New York Harbor, bound for a long-awaited overhaul at a New Jersey shipyard. The Intrepid's owners scrubbed an attempt a month ago when the floating military museum's rudder and four giant propellers got stuck in the mud at the pier that had been the ship's home for the past 24 years...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's prime minister reversed course Tuesday and said his envoys will talk with Iraq's neighbors about the possibility of a regional conference on quelling the violence here, despite opposition to the plan by some key political allies. ...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush got a preview Tuesday of the Iraq commission's ideas for changes in war policies, while the White House sought to dampen the report's impact in advance by emphasizing the president will be listening to other voices as well...

A strong group of sophomores and Central senior Hannah Kinder should provide the highlights for the first winter season for high school girls swimming. Just as the boys made their fall debut this past season after being a winter sport, the girls swimming season moved from the spring to winter. Unlike the boys, switching seasons has had few ill effects on the area girls programs...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Notre Dame cruised through the season-opening Woodland Invitational and expected to face its stiffest competition Tuesday night in its opening game of the SEMO Conference Tournament against rival Central. Less than a minute into the second quarter the Bulldogs had already raced to a 20-point lead and went on to crush the Tigers 86-37...

Immigrants serving; Police have reasons; What hurricanes?; Build more parking; Needed truck route; Taking credit

To the editor:Since 2004, I have randomly asked two dozen-plus Southeast Missouri waterfowl hunters if they liked the every-member draw at Otter Slough and Ten Mile Pond conservation areas. Only two favored the every-member draw. When people hunt waterfowl at Otter Slough, Eagle Bluffs or Ten Mile Pond, every member of a hunting party can draw a numbered cube from a box. ...

To the editor:The story in Saturday's paper about the tobacco study was a prime example of why the statewide tobacco tax failed to pass last month. Missouri receives annual payments of $140 million to $160 million from the Big Tobacco settlement, yet this study is only being conducted because $1.4 million is being given to the state Department of Health and Senior Services by the Missouri Foundation for Health, a public-benefit not-for-profit corporation...

Residents of Scott County have a number of reasons to be proud of the three-year renovation of the historic Scott County Courthouse. First is the renovation itself, which replaced electrical wiring, removed asbestos, installed central heat and air conditioning and improved the quality of the workplace for county employees. It also provided a long-needed upgrade for a building on the National Register of Historic Places...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- For Verena Robinson, it has been five long days since her home at 712 Warren St. in Farmington was livable. And nothing she has heard lately makes her believe she's getting back soon. "I'd like to go back by the end of the week, but we'll just wait and see what happens," she said from the shelter run by the Red Cross at the Farmington Civic Center...

Ms. E is 91. Her dog keeps her company most of the time since she lives alone and has no close family in the area. Her meager Social Security check leaves little left over for anything extra. Her dog is one of the highlights in her life and having toys for her pet would make Ms. E's Christmas really meaningful. Watching him play with the toys would give her real satisfaction, knowing that her companion is getting to have some fun...

Oak Ridge FCE The Oak Ridge FCE Club met Nov. 14 with Jean Rehak, president, presiding. Lee Anderson and Rehak reported collecting $61 for the Pennies for Friendship group. Nelda Crader, Anderson and Rehak reported on the district meeting in Brazeau, Mo. Betty Dellinger, Crader and Rehak attended the leader training meeting...

By John W. Whitehead Once upon a time, the motto emblazoned on police cars was "To Protect and Serve." However, as police forces are transformed into pseudo-SWAT teams, complete with riot gear and a take-no-prisoners attitude, the fear that cops are overstepping their limits is on the rise...

Just ask my mother, and she'll tell you I'm not much of a cook. Rarely do I even attempt to bake something in the oven -- that's why microwaves were invented, right? In an effort to enhance my cooking skills, I will fill this space with my adventures in the kitchen...

After a complaint is signed alleging the event violates Missouri's law against Sunday sales, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. warns organizers of a doll and miniature doll house show at the Arena Building that sales cannot take place; no sales occur, and about three-quarters of the people who were to have booths leave early in the day...

I've noticed many area Christmas events taking place. Many churches have programs planned and each one is special in its own way. One of my favorite programs so far this year was the Bethlehem Village of Hope event at the Baptist church in Delta. The church pulled off a memorable evening for our family -- one that is sure to be an annual tradition with us. ...

ST. LOUIS -- For more than 160,000 Midwesterners without power for a sixth day Tuesday, trying to stay warm can be just as dangerous as facing below-freezing temperatures. Sixteen deaths in Missouri and Illinois have been blamed on last week's winter storm and its aftermath, and frustrations with the prolonged power outage prompted some harsh criticism of Ameren Corp. on Tuesday by Missouri's utility regulators...

n At 3:22 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3200 block of Gordonville Road. n At 4:02 p.m., motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Independence and Broadview streets. n At 5:23 p.m., emergency medical service in the 2600 block of Enterprise Street...

Cape Girardeau: Arrests; DWIs; Summons; Thefts; Property damage; Miscellaneous; Assault; Burglary; Theft; Miscellaneous; Southeast Missouri State University: Theft

Spooler; Hale; Harris; Edmonds; Snider; Burleson; Cohn; Seiler; Wilkinson

Martha Alice Vandivort, 61, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born June 15, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Mae Sanford Tanner. She married Sam Vandivort, who preceded her in death. Vandivort was a graduate of the former College High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Jim Bill Bankson, 73, of Mounds died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, at the Daystar Care Center in Cairo, Ill. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill.

McCLURE, Ill. -- Valora Lucille Eisenman, 77, of St. Ignace, Mich., died Monday, Nov. 6, 2006, at Mackinac Straits Hospital following a lingering illness. She was born Jan. 4, 1929, in McClure, daughter of Robert and Amy Kirk Burris. She and Robert Eisenman were married Jan. 3, 1948. He died June 15, 2006...

Bruce Lee Carter, infant son of Jason L. Carter and Andrea J. Chupp, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 17, 2006. Survivors include his parents of Patton, Mo.; paternal grandfather and stepgrandmother, Rodger and Sherry Grubbs of Patton; paternal grandmother and stepgrandfather, Susan and Richard Carter of Elkhart, Ind.; maternal grandmother and stepgrandfather, Tammy and Fred Betts of Elkhart; maternal grandfather, Rex G. ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA wrestled with two late-breaking technical concerns that showed up Tuesday two days before the scheduled launch of space shuttle Discovery, but managers weren't sure if they could delay the start of the mission. The launch still was scheduled for Thursday night...

NEW YORK -- Going .500 gets fans upset, coaches in trouble and players released. Except in this year's NFC, where a break-even mark is looking playoff-worthy. And a winning record makes you a Super Bowl contender. When the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, it created a four-way logjam for the two NFC wild-card berths between those teams, the New York Giants and Atlanta -- all at 6-6...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Greg Maddux is headed to the San Diego Padres, while the Boston Red Sox added right fielder J.D. Drew and shortstop Julio Lugo. Halfway through baseball's winter meetings, teams remained focused on free agents instead of potential trades...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues didn't stop at retiring Brett Hull's No. 16 jersey on Tuesday night. They arranged to have his name added to the street bordering their arena. Just the jersey would have been plenty for Hull, graying at the temples but as captivating as ever during pregame ceremonies. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Pavel Datsyuk got his first goal in 16 games and added an assist and the Detoit Red Wings spoiled the retirement of Brett Hull's jersey with a 5-1 victory over the Blues on Tuesday night. The pre-game ceremony marking the retirement of the No. ...

The Saxony Lutheran boys basketball team used a big second quarter to ruin Scott City's season opener Tuesday night with an 80-67 victory. The Crusaders outscored the host Rams 33-18 in the second period to erase a 14-9 first-quarter deficit and go up 42-32 at halftime...

To college basketball fans, it's a small patch of heaven: Three schools with championship banners and fanatic followings. For three days last week, the ACC-Big Ten Challenge provided an opportunity available in only one place -- Tobacco Road. Michigan at North Carolina State on Monday. Indiana at Duke on Tuesday. Ohio State at North Carolina on Wednesday...

WASHINGTON -- Swapping his running shoes for bicycle pedals, President Bush bid adieu to painful runner's knees and transformed himself into a devoted mountain biker -- and high-tech gearhead. Even with elections looming, the cyclist-in-chief made time earlier this month for his ritual mountain biking on weekends. ...

WASHINGTON -- Robert Gates, seemingly clinching confirmation as the new secretary of defense, said Tuesday the United States is not winning in Iraq and he's confident President Bush will listen to his ideas about forging a new war strategy. He won speedy and unanimous approval from the Senate Armed Services Committee after five hours of testimony, a bipartisan show of support that suggested how eager many lawmakers are to replace Donald H. ...

MILAN, Italy -- An Italian prosecutor on Tuesday requested the indictment of 26 Americans and five Italian secret service officials in the 2003 kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan -- a case that continues to be an irritant to U.S.-Italian relations. ...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Tuesday that Pakistan is willing to give up its claim to Kashmir if India reciprocates and agrees to self-governance in the disputed Himalayan region that they have fought over for decades. ...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The owner of a Southwest Missouri group home where 10 people died in a fire last week said he was skeptical of comments by investigators that faulty wiring may have caused the blaze. Robert Dupont, 62, also denied that he is an operator of the home under the state definition of that term, an issue that has arisen since fire gutted the Anderson Guest House Nov. ...

The season doesn't begin for more than a month, but Southeast Missouri State gymnastics fans will have an early opportunity for a sneak preview of the team on Thursday. Southeast will conduct its annual intrasquad meet at 5 p.m. at Parker Gymnasium. There is no admission charge...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A report on state-run schools for children with severe disabilities finds it costs more to teach them in separate schools than through their local district. That's just the conclusion advocates fear, and they say it doesn't tell the whole story...

B.J. Smith resigned his position as the women's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State, the university announced Wednesday in a news release. "In a joint statement, Southeast Missouri State University and B.J. Smith, the head coach of the women's basketball team, announced today that Mr. Smith has decided that it is in his and the university's best interests that he voluntarily resign from the university."...