Stories from Monday, December 18, 2006

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- Two young children were among the seven people found dead after a 911 call reported a "strange odor" from a duplex apartment in this northeast Missouri town, police said Monday. The bodies were discovered around 2:30 p.m. Sunday. ...

HOUSE SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) -- A St. Louis-area high school stepped up security Monday, days after a student wrote threatening graffiti and was taken into juvenile custody. Northwest High School Principal James Knirr said attendance Monday appeared to be about the same as the average school day as he walked the halls...

The River Heritage Mural Association is still looking for sponsors for sections of its "Missouri Wall of Fame" floodwall mural two months after the painting was completed. When the mural was finished in October, about 60 percent of the $80,000 to $90,000 the association needed to pay for the project had been raised. As of Friday, the number had risen to about 65 percent, association president Tim Blattner said...

Missouri agencies working with those facing homelessness and those already without a home are hoping a January survey will help them maintain or increase their services to those in need. At least two Cape Girardeau agencies are competing for coveted funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to supplement their programs, said Edwin Cooper, state coordinator for the Missouri Housing Development Commission...

Two reports that landed on my desk last week won't make business owners jump for joy. They won't make store managers rub their hands together in glee or reassure an out-of-work truck driver. But that doesn't mean they don't offer reason for some optimism, even, as the headline suggests, if it needs to be tempered and cautious...

When the Missouri Legislature returns to work Jan. 3, its spending choices will be dramatically different than they were as recently as two years ago, when legally mandated spending was projected at more than $1 billion more than revenue. The Republican-controlled legislature, along with new GOP governor Matt Blunt, responded by changing the laws that governed their budget choices, cutting thousands from Medicaid rolls and rewriting the formula for distributing aid to public schools. ...

Police matters; Government control; Too much conflict; No forks allowed; No drinking either; Extra trash; Rude to cashiers; Watch is returned; Lot of problems; Hot blooded; Drug pushers; Mulching leaves; Put on a smile; Small-town crime; Gift from an angel; Loud music; Loving music; Loved the lights; Celebrity challenge; On deaf ears

To the editor:My friend Tim and I were astonished to discover at morning coffee that we had had identical dreams, not once but several times over the years. My friend is a university teacher, as I was until retiring several years ago. We learned that both of us had dreamed that we had been assigned classes to teach, but had first learned of the duties several weeks after the semester had started. ...

The Noon Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau donates a decorated Christmas tree to the Kinder Care day care center here; those contributing to the project are the Evening Optimist Club, Otasco, Dollar General Store, P.N. Hirsch Store, Sterling's, Super D and the Cape Girardeau County Juvenile Office...

To the editor:Occasionally a letter starts my day with a bit of jocularity, and the recent letter from Bill Palmer gave me my big laugh of the day. Palmer's appetite for promoting illegal drug abuse is exactly what these weak-minded individuals need. They focus on his words of support...

Children want many things, especially at this time of year. What they want most from adults doesn't cost a penny. That is encouragement. The Children's Arts Festival encourages Southeast Missouri students to create art while listening to music, an idea fostered by the festival's founder, Dr. ...

A common bond of battles with drug and alcohol addiction brought three very different men to Cape Girardeau almost a year ago. For 10 months, the men lived at Teen Challenge -- a faith-based drug and alcohol recovery program off County Road 621. It was at Teen Challenge where they learned how to overcome their addictions and how to put their faith in Jesus Christ...

401 Independence St. 7 p.m. MondayStudy Session at 5 p.m. n Invocation by the Rev. Barry Pfanstiel, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church n Pledge of Allegiance by Boy Scout Troop 21, St. Andrew Lutheran Church Presentations n Presentation of plaques to George Dordoni and Darryl Morgan...

Charles Joseph Lichtenegger, 86, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 27, 1920, in Pocahontas, the son of Henry Edward and Mable Henneretta Swan Lichtenegger. He and Geneva Brown were married on Nov. 22, 1942, in Pocahontas. She survives...

Paul Emil Pruitt, 88, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 28, 1918, in Whitewater, the son of Emil C. and Katie (Pittman) Pruitt. He and Alice "Q Belle" McDaniel were married on Dec. 13, 1941, in Perryville, Mo. She preceded him in death on April 10, 1995...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- T. Paul Gleeson Jr., of Chesterfield, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. He was married to Mary Franciscus Gleeson, who preceded him in death. Gleeson was a Navy fighter pilot in World War II. He was employed at McDonnell Aircraft as an engineer and project manager. ...

Mildred Archer, 81, of Jackson died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Walter Koehler, 77, of Tamms, died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Robert M. Whistler, 54, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, at the Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. He was born Dec. 17, 1951, in Perryville, son of William John and Lillian Mary Bert Whistler. Whistler was a retired lab supervisor from the Menard State Penitentiary...

HOUSE SPRINGS, Mo. -- Joshua Michael McHugh, 22, of House Springs, formerly of Jackson died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. He was born Jan. 30, 1984, in Tulsa, Okla., son of Michael Robert and Evelyn Bernice Wiseman McHugh...

DWIs; Arrests; Assault; Summonses; Thefts; Property damage

Fair association elects board members At the Southeast Missouri District Fair Association annual meeting, Gary Kight of Advance, Marilyn Schott of Jackson and Wes Campbell of Cape Girardeau were elected to the board of directors. Chris Weiss of Jackson was appointed to the board by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. ...

Nationwide, Kohl's stores feature a number of special items for $5 each that benefit children's health and educational opportunities in local communities. The program, Kohl's Cares for Kids, uses 100 percent of the net profits for children's health and educational opportunities...

The Safe Communities Program of the Cape Girardeau Police Department is partnering with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Society on Aging to focus on older driver safety and community mobility...

Pfc. Densen Lee Glaus recently completed his Army basic training and graduated from Foxtrot Company 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. Glaus is a 2006 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton, Mo. He is the son of Lary and Betty Glaus of Chaffee, Mo...

Summers hired as jeweler at Rogers; KFVS' Voss wins Sherwood Award

It started with Monster.com. Michael Noblitt, a chef for nearly 20 years at restaurants across the country, had found himself in East Prairie, Mo., and looking for a place to prepare food. The ad on Monster.com described a job that seemed perfect for the chef with the history degree: Run not one but three restaurants in a historic old hotel that had been famously saved from the wrecking ball...

After losing their first two Ohio Valley Conference games by one point on shots in the last five seconds, Jacksonville State's Gamecocks figured the basketball gods owed them something. That did little to ease the pain Southeast Missouri State felt...

Missy Whitney had been waiting for this type of performance. Whitney has been solid in her first season at Southeast Missouri State but, like most junior college transfers, has been up and down. But Sunday Whitney was nothing but up as she poured in 36 points to lead the host Redhawks past Ohio Valley Conference opponent Jacksonville State 90-83...

DALLAS -- Amy Andrade had been thinking about Botox for a while. So when she spotted a spa-like "cosmedical" clinic in the upscale Dallas mall she visits about once a month, she was immediately interested. When she learned the clinic was connected with one of Texas' leading medical institutions, she was sold...

WASHINGTON -- Newt Gingrich suggested on Sunday he might not run for president in 2008 if a rival has all but locked up the Republican nomination by next fall. The former House speaker from Georgia said it would not be too late for him to enter the race after next Labor Day, if he believed no candidate had a clear advantage. He praised Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani as the contenders to watch...

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Two of the most prominent and largest Episcopal parishes in Virginia voted overwhelmingly Sunday to leave The Episcopal Church and join fellow Anglican conservatives forming a rival denomination in the United States. Truro Church in Fairfax and The Falls Church in Falls Church plan to place themselves under the leadership of Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a "satanic attack" on the church...

ST. LOUIS -- Ameren Corp. customers in Missouri and Illinois have gotten used to a vicious cycle. First, a major storm knocks out power to thousands of homes and businesses. Then Ameren blames nature. State regulators promise a thorough investigation, but soon enough another calamitous storm leaves customers in the dark...

SEATTLE -- About 100 people have been poisoned by carbon monoxide produced by generators and charcoal grills used for warmth and light during the widespread power outages caused by a major storm in western Washington state. One man died of inhaling the colorless, odorless gas. At least six other people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in Oregon...

WASHINGTON -- Cable television rates keep going up while prices for other communications services are going down, says the nation's chief communications regulator, and he blames local governments for blocking competition. On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on whether to make it easier for competitors to obtain cable franchises...

ATLANTA -- They don't look too much like catfish. They don't taste like them, either -- at least to catfish connoisseurs. But Vietnamese basa and tra fish often fool consumers in the U.S., where they're sometimes billed as Asian catfish. Sometimes they're even labeled Delta grown...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms kidnapped two dozen employees at Red Crescent offices in downtown Baghdad on Sunday, highlighting the threat to humanitarian workers swept up in Iraq's lawlessness. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, visiting Iraq for the sixth time since the 2003 invasion, appealed for international support for Iraq and said the bloodshed was being carried out "by the very forces worldwide who are trying to prevent moderation."...

HAVANA -- Cuban officials told a group of visiting U.S. lawmakers that Fidel Castro does not have cancer or a terminal illness in the most comprehensive denial yet of rampant rumors about the ailing leader's health, the head of the U.S. delegation said Sunday...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Five more turnovers, a seventh straight loss and a third shutout this season. The Oakland Raiders that Al Davis built with a "commitment to excellence" are now perhaps the worst team in the NFL. "I want to win and I will win, and we will win for the Raiders," Davis said. "We'll get this thing straightened out."...

Redskins 16, Saints 10 New Orleans (9-5) made the playoffs by default Sunday, losing to the Washington Redskins while the Saints' only remaining pursuer in the NFC South, Carolina, was eliminated from the division race by a loss to Pittsburgh. The Redskins (5-9) punished the Saints' defense with a running attack that racked up 161 yards...

ST. LOUIS -- Given 11 power-play chances, the Nashville Predators finally cashed in. Kimmo Timonen scored on a slap shot on a 4-on-3 advantage with 1:49 left in overtime for a 2-1 victory over the sagging St. Louis Blues on Sunday night. "We felt if we kept working and skating and doing the right things, they were going to come unglued, and they did," coach Barry Trotz said. "They took way too many penalties, and every penalty was deserved...

BEIJING -- For the first time since it exploded a nuclear bomb, North Korea returns to international disarmament talks. The United States says the choice is simple -- negotiate or face sanctions. The six-nation talks, which reopen today in the Chinese capital, have been plagued by delays and discord since they began in August 2003...

LOS ANGELES -- Not even a dragon or the world's most-beloved spider could deny Will Smith another first-place finish at the box office. Sony's father-son drama "The Pursuit of Happyness," starring Smith and his own son, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, debuted as the No. 1 movie with $27 million, according to studio estimates Sunday...

n At 10:41 p.m., emergency medical service at 100 S. Park Drive. n At 11:46 p.m., emergency medical service at 200 Shirley Drive. n At 1:17 a.m., emergency medical service at 3000 Boutin Drive. n At 5:38 a.m., emergency medical service at 900 Ranney St...

Ms. N has had her share of health problems. With heart trouble, diabetes and a history of cancer and stroke, she is happy to enjoy another Christmas. The 84-year-old receives Social Security, a small Veterans Administration pension and food stamps. She lives alone in an apartment complex with other seniors...

As one new homeowner received the keys to her Habitat for Humanity house Sunday, another family broke ground at the property where the organization's 26th home will be built in the Cape Girardeau area. "This is a dream come true for us," said Dustin Runnels, who with his wife, Florita and their children, Alexis and Allisen, broke ground for their Habitat home at the corner of College Street and West End Boulevard...

NEW YORK -- It was late in the fourth quarter. The New York Knicks were losing badly. The Madison Square Garden crowd was cheering for the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony. So by the time Denver's J.R. Smith went in on another fast break Saturday, the Knicks had had enough. Mardy Collins figured he'd put a stop to the fun with a hard foul. Instead, it was the start of a wild brawl...

ST. LOUIS -- Ameren Corp. customers in Missouri and Illinois have gotten used to a vicious cycle. First, a major storm knocks out power to thousands of homes and businesses. Then Ameren blames nature. State regulators promise a thorough investigation, but soon enough another calamitous storm leaves customers in the dark...

SEATTLE -- About 100 people have been poisoned by carbon monoxide produced by generators and charcoal grills used for warmth and light during the widespread power outages caused by a major storm in western Washington state. One man died of inhaling the colorless, odorless gas. At least six other people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in Oregon...

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Two of the most prominent and largest Episcopal parishes in Virginia voted overwhelmingly Sunday to leave The Episcopal Church and join fellow Anglican conservatives forming a rival denomination in the United States. Truro Church in Fairfax and The Falls Church in Falls Church plan to place themselves under the leadership of Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a "satanic attack" on the church...

HOOD RIVER, Ore. -- Rescuers looking for three missing climbers on Mount Hood found a body Sunday in the area where one of the climbers made a distress call last week, authorities said. The dead climber had not yet been identified, said Pete Hughes, a spokesman for the Hood River County Sheriff's Office. The victim was believed to be one of the three missing climbers, authorities said...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Instead of enjoying a relaxing day at the international space station, the space shuttle Discovery's seven astronauts prepared Sunday for an unplanned, fourth spacewalk to get a stubborn, half-retracted solar array to fold up...

Ask well-known Cape Girardeau banker Jim Limbaugh what people don't know about him and he'll joke that there are many, many things. "But it will be our secret," he said, with a laugh...

Predicting the future is tricky business. In the past, I've made a prediction or two about the business scene. Some of them have even come true. But most of them ... um ... didn't. I predicted that Sears would move to the mall, that Albertsons would overcome it's little cash-flow problem and that Jim Talent would win re-election in a land-slide...

Local retailers, chambers of commerce officials and others in the know say the retail climate for the holiday season is healthy, but the final figure on money spent won't be known until next year. Dr. Bruce Domazlicky, director of Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Economic Research, said the forecast for spending is decent, but it's not a huge forecast over last year...

Investing in their employees' good heath will keep businesses' bottom line healthy. Spokesmen for both Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital confirm that offering flu shots at a business site not only keeps the workforce healthy, but cuts down on sick days and keeps productivity up...

It's time for the company Christmas party again -- an event most employers hope will boost morale and foster camaraderie. Company Christmas parties tend to start soon after Thanksgiving and continue into the week before Christmas. Smaller companies often have Christmas parties at their business location while larger ones rent special venues. ...

With new jobs opening in the area, potential employees are shining their shoes, updating their resumes and hoping to stand out from the crowd. Those who come to an interview knowing something about the company they're applying to will make a lasting impression. Learning as much as possible bout the company is as simple as logging on to the Internet. Most companies have web sites...

Forget Thanksgiving. Instead of spending the holiday with family, friends and a massive holiday feast, Sean Ivory opted to spend 13 chilly overnight hours in a lawn chair outside the front doors of Best Buy. "I know it sounds crazy, but a bargain's a bargain," said Ivory, who was first in line at the Cape Girardeau retailer after waiting in line since 4 p.m. ...

For many, the last election results may signify a new direction in the local and national business cycle. In our local area, it has always been a slight change, regardless of political party. This area is conservative in its business and family practices, and reflects the same in both our local political parties, with perhaps some differences in their philosophy...

In the aftermath of the November elections, all of us are speculating our futures. Small business owners are no different. Small business is essential to the American way of life. According to NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business), 60 percent of all American workers are employed by small businesses and over 90 percent of all new jobs are created by small business. ...

Bankruptcies filed through November 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, , Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne. Court is held in Cape Girardeau...

The new owners of the Town House Inn in Cape Girardeau have plans beyond remodeling the hotel -- they want to redevelop the nearly two-acre property on Kingshighway by adding a new restaurant and strip mall. Matt and Robin Goehman bought the 51-room hotel Nov. 1 from brothers Pete and Manny Patel. The Patels had recently remodeled the rooms and razed the building that housed the hotel's offices and a restaurant and bar...

"We are totally decorated and music can be heard throughout the mall. All the retailers are very optimistic about a busy shopping season," said Lindsey Church, marketing director at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. The centralized Holiday Court, accentuated by a carousel crowded with children riding ranch and farm animals, is decked out in Christmas colors, said Church, and Santa is in the Macy's wing until Dec. 24...

Improvements at Farmington Regional Airport are taking off after having been stalled for a number of years. On Nov. 13, city officials and business representatives gathered at the airport to break ground for the second phase of an improvement and expansion project that started in late November...