Stories from Thursday, December 28, 2006

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- After delivering parcels in Little Rock, Ark., a pilot of a small plane survived after crash landing in a suburban neighborhood north of St. Louis. Greg Chatten, a pilot with St. Charles Flying Service, miscalculated the amount of fuel left in a Cessna Turbo 210 before he took off from the St. Louis Downtown Airport, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- At the moment, only eight people -- three of them dead -- are on the state's little-used list of cheaters and organized crime figures blacklisted from Missouri casinos. But that's about to change. The Missouri Gaming Commission is expanding the list to include a broader group of criminals, and just last month voted to add two convicted carpet installers...

In 1966, three young men from Southeast Missouri took a trip to Washington, D.C. They couldn't believe their luck to spend time with House Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan and other Republican leaders, including Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas. Little did they know during a photo op in Ford's office, they were meeting a future president of the United States...

Dec. 28, 2006 Dear David, The beginning of the new year is always a time for reflection, of clearing the head, beginning again, renewing hope. Twenty-six-hundred years ago the "Tao Te Ching" painted this picture of the way life can be: "In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creatures flourish together, content with the way they are, endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed."...

A provision of Missouri's Bill of Rights in effect since 1820 would be removed from the state constitution under a proposal from state Sen. Jason Crowell aimed at forcing more sex offenders to register with authorities. Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, filed the proposed constitutional amendment last week for consideration when state lawmakers return Jan. ...

Mike Mitchell has gotten little rest over the past two days. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Mitchell was at the Show Me Center from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., working out of his in-venue office, posting content to semoball.com. Every game gets its coverage on the site, with scores, stats and video highlights...

Misplaced blame; Insurance idea; Drug testing; Public streets; Lost the spirit; Physical punishment; Not forgotten; Use existing law; Making a difference; Keep up with costs; What you pay for; Need holiday lights; Thanks, trashmen; Thanks for keys; Thanks for generosity; Bull charges; Vision of quake; Lights stay on; Too many liars; Tourney compassion; Stoplight timing

To the editor:Missouri Right to Life enthusiastically supports the joint resolution proposed by state Sen. Matt Bartle and state Rep. Jim Lembke which would place on the 2008 ballot a proposed amendment to ban all human cloning and to close massive loopholes to such a ban that currently exist in the Missouri Constitution...

The fact that there are 36 candidates seeking office in Cairo, Ill. -- 10 are running for mayor and 26 for six council seats -- probably has more to do with the city's recent political turmoil than a pure sense of civic duty. For four years there has been an ongoing test of wills between council members and Mayor Paul Farris, who is seeking re-election...

To the editor:This is in response to Robert Polack Jr.'s falsely portraying the Democrats and liberals as poor, innocent victims. He is mistaken in saying that the parties he mentioned have "generally respected" the views from the other side. One way to find out about your family history has always been to run for a political office...

To the editor:Thank you so much to the Southeast Missourian and the Mosley family for the wonderful Christmas story you printed on Dec. 24. I have been a fan of Jean Bell Mosley for a long time and delighted in reading another account by her. Her book "Seeds in the Wind" has a chapter on December and some more interesting views of Christmas if there is anyone who hasn't already read them. ...

Cape Girardeau County Court turns down a request from Jackson Seniro Center Inc. officials for financial assistance in the purchase of the Lichtenegger Finer Foods store for use as a nutrition center; County Court Presiding Judge Gene Huckstep notes the county is prohibited from contributing public money to private individuals, corporations or associations...

ORAN, Mo. -- Alex Schlitt's museum is filled with memorabilia that would impress any World War II history buff. A glass display case contains a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He's got a gas mask bag and garrison hats lined up along shelves. Army and Navy uniforms hang from the ceiling. A newspaper from Aug. 14, 1945, that trumpets Japan's surrender is framed on the wall...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state Revenue Department has awarded its first competitively bid contract to run a vehicle and driver's license office to a longtime manager of the office. The contract for the west St. Louis County office in Ballwin was awarded to Ryker Enterprises, which is run by Danah Lewis. Lewis has managed that office for nine years under both Democratic and Republican gubernatorial appointees, the department said...

Two Cape Girardeau teens are charged wth stealing a motor vehicle and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, said Cape Girardeau Police Sgt. Barry Hovis. Hovis said the 15-year-old boys were arrested Saturday after they allegedly stole a car sometime after 2 a.m. that day from Lear Street and drove it across the Mississippi River into Illinois, where they reportedly drove it around before throwing rocks at the window and taillight covers...

One man in custody after high-speed chase A man is in custody following a high-speed chase through Caruthersville, Mo. According to Caruthersville police, the chase began at about 3:10 p.m. Friday as officers were investigating an improperly parked car at the intersection of 13th and Walker streets. ...

The announcement that a customer won a big Missouri Lottery prize didn't bring a rush of people looking for luck to the Jackson BP, employees said Wednesday. Sales of lottery tickets were about normal, cashier Becky Archer said. And workers at the convenience store on East Jackson Boulevard still don't know who will collect the $3.7 million Missouri Lotto jackpot from Saturday night's drawing. ...

Southeast Missourian A northbound tractor-trailer overturned at about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 55 near the 91 mile marker, according to a Scott City police spokeswoman. There were no injuries and no other vehicles were involved in the accident. It is unknown why the truck overturned, the spokeswoman said...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- A Union County Sheriff's spokesman said Wednesday no charges have been filed against a possible suspect in double homicide. Police found the bodies of Robert Pitts Sr., 45, and his wife, Marcia, 43, at about 7 a.m. Friday in their residence at 107 N. Acre Lane in Jonesboro...

9 a.m. today County Administration Building 1 Barton Square Jackson Routine business n Letter regarding Buzzi Unicem request to revise DNR permit. n Communications grant correspondence -- sheriff's department. n Mental health board minutes. n Procter & Gamble payment in lieu of taxes received...

FULTON, Mo. -- A central Missouri man has been charged in the Christmas Eve killings of his cousin and her husband, Callaway County prosecutors said Wednesday. Brian Joseph Dorsey, 34, of Jefferson City, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his cousin Sarah Bonnie, 25, and her husband, Benjamin Bonnie, 28, according to court records. Their bodies were found Sunday afternoon at their New Bloomfield home, according to the Callaway County Sheriff's Department...

BETHALTO, Ill. -- Virginia L. Dominges, 93, of Bethalto died Friday, Dec. 22, 2006, at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, Ill. She was born Oct. 4, 1913, in Barlow, Ky., daughter of Thomas and Annetta Smith Carney. She and Harold Dominges were married Nov. 12, 1936, in Cairo, Ill. He preceded her in death May 25, 1984...

Lewis F. Ward, 88, of Grand Rapids, Mich., died Thursday, December 21, 2006. He was born Dec. 31, 1917, in Harbor Springs, Mich., son of Arthur and Edna Blackman Ward. He and Erna Vogt were married Oct. 24, 1944, in Flint, Mich. She died July 6, 1992. He then married Izetta Van Camp. She survives...

James Everett "Bake" Calhoun, 94, of Eldon, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Jefferson City, Mo. He was born Nov. 26, 1912, at Matthews, Mo., son of the late James Frederick "Fritz" Calhoun and Nancy Louise Wilburn Calhoun. He and Evia Hannah McKenzie were married on Jan. 29, 1934, at Matthews...

ANNA, Ill. -- Irene H. West, 89, of Anna died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Union County Hospital. She was born July 8, 1917, in Anna, daughter of Tullie and Annie Clyde Bird Hess. She and F. Wayne West were married Oct. 31, 1937, in Anna. He died April 5, 2000...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Jerry Bridges, 65, of Olive Branch died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 19, 1941, in Tamms, Ill., son of William Lloyd and Edna Mae Bracken Bridges. He and Elizabeth Medearis were married Nov. 3, 2005...

Iola Massie, 83, of Grand Chain, Ill., died Friday, Dec. 22 at the Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 at Massie Funeral Home in Mounds, Ill. Services for Massie will be held at noon Sat. Dec. 20 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Green Lawn Memorial Garden in Villa Ridge, Ill. with Alton Carter officiating...

Joe A. Heisserer, 67, of New Hamburg, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arragnements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Dorcas Mae Russell, 73, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 7, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio, daughter of Henry Ira and Carrie Etta Wall Lawless. She and Charles Russell were married Oct. 10, 1952, in Jeffersonville, Ind. He died Nov. 15, 2002...

n At 3:25 p.m., emergency medical service in the 2100 block of William Street. n At 3:36 p.m., gas leak at South Hanover and Bloomfield streets. n At 4:27 p.m., box alarm at 734 West Rodney Drive. n At 4:41 p.m., emergency medical service in the 600 block of South Sprigg Street...

Eakins; Brown; Landis; Martin; Weber; Cassout; Messmer; Froman; Dry

Arrests; Summons; Miscellaneous

SADORUS, Ill. -- Neither rain nor sleet kept a 1946 letter from getting delivered for 60 years. But a war did. Only this fall, Eberhard Brieschke, a Sadorus musician, received the letter his uncle sent to his mother in elegant German handwriting. It was touching for Brieschke, since his mother has died and he lost contact with his uncle somewhere in eastern Germany...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein urged Iraqis to embrace "brotherly coexistence" and not to hate U.S.-led foreign troops in a goodbye letter posted on a Web site Wednesday, a day after Iraq's highest court upheld his death sentence. The court ordered him hanged within 30 days...

According to Charleston coach Danny Farmer, the Bluejays are playing with a renewed amount of focus and intensity this week. It showed Wednesday against Oran in the quarterfinals of the 62nd annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center...

West Park Lanes Submitted Dec. 26 MEN High games -- Zel Evans 300, Darryl James 279, Tom Siebert 279, Tom Ladd 275, R.J. Gardiner 270, Ralph James 269, John Litz 266, Mike Freeman 258, James Smith 257, Jeff Davis 257, Maury Miller 256, Bill Gaddy 255, Richard Welter 254, Terry Pearson 252, Ed Earnhart 251, Gary Vaught 250, David Moore 249, C.L. Slinkard 248, Don Henley 248, Michael McGuire 247, Brad Heise 247, David Barberis 246, Jerry Campbell 246, Lee Sadler 245, Tim Sadler 245...

Cape doctor named to College of Surgeons Dr. Kevin Vaught, a surgeon at Brain and NeuroSpine Clinic of Missouri in Cape Girardeau, was initiated into the Fellows of the American College of Surgeons at the college's 92nd annual clinical congress in Chicago. ...

Cape Area Musicians sponsored the 15th annual Christmas Hoot Music Festival Dec. 17. The event took place at Broussard's, Buckner Brewing Co. and the River City Yacht Club with all proceeds going to benefit the children at Cottonwood Treatment Center...

Southeast Missouri State's women are coming off a nice road win over Buffalo and getting ready to resume Ohio Valley Conference play. That means the Redhawks could potentially have trouble treating today's opponent with proper respect. Acting head coach John Ishee hopes he has been able to keep his Redhawks from doing that entering a 2 p.m. tipoff against NAIA Martin Methodist at the Show Me Center...

EL PASO, Texas -- Last year, Matt Moore had almost twice as many interceptions as touchdown passes. His streak of 161 consecutive passes without getting one picked off this season -- the longest active streak in the NCAA -- has been a key to No. 24 Oregon State's turnaround tale...

Friedheim increaseslead in dartball Friedheim went 2-1 in its match with second-place Crosstown to strengthen its grip on first place in Cape-Perry LLL Dartball action. Altenburg Trinity jumped up to fourth place with a 3-0 sweep of Frohna. Standings...

Thirteenth-seeded Chaffee upended the 12th-seed Meadow Heights 65-53 in the consolation bracket on Wednesday. The early morning game got off to a slow start as a low scoring first quarter produced a 9-4 Chaffee advantage. However, Chaffee picked up the scoring pace in the second quarter. By halftime, the Red Devils had built a 13-point cushion. Though they were tested in the second half, they never relinquished the lead...

ST. LOUIS -- Two months after the fact, the St. Louis Cardinals' improbable run to their first World Series championship in 24 years remains difficult to digest. Nine losses in the final 12 games of the regular season evaporated nearly all of a seven-game cushion in what would have been a memorable collapse. They were supposed to be the first team out of the postseason, given their unimpressive 83 victories, thin pitching rotation and injury concerns at center field and shortstop...

SAN FRANCISCO -- With Barry Bonds still in their sights, federal investigators probing steroids in sports can now use the names and urine samples of about 100 Major League Baseball players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, following a ruling Wednesday from a federal appeals court...

Saxony Lutheran opened its own Saxony Christmas Tournament with a 76-25 win over Marquand on Wednesday at Saxony Lutheran. The Crusaders improved to 6-1. Saxony will play Zalma today in the round-robin portion of the event. Max Wieser and Alex Jauch had 13 points apiece for Saxony, and Garrett Ruppel added 10...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Bobby Bowden has his 30th straight winning team at Florida State after the coach's most frustrating squad put a fierce finish on a wild Emerald Bowl. Lorenzo Booker ran for 91 yards, caught five passes for 117 more and scored two touchdowns, leading the Seminoles to a 44-27 victory over UCLA on Wednesday night...

Recently, I have been reporting on longevity factors -- those lifestyle changes that have been proven to extend our life span. They all require effort, which most of us in our modern determined health-conscious ways are willing to do. (Really, how hard is it to remember to have a daily bowel movement and wear sunscreen, even when it is cloudy?)...

ST. LOUIS -- Rams running back Steven Jackson was named most valuable player by his teammates Wednesday. Cornerback Tye Hill and safety Corey Chavous also were honored with 2006 team awards. Jackson received the Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award after rushing 1,386 yards. That's the most since the Rams' Jerome Bettis rushed for 1,429 yards in 1993...

EL PASO, Texas -- The Sun Bowl is a bit of a homecoming for Chase Daniel. Missouri's Texas-bred quarterback expects a large rooting section during Friday's game. Daniel promises not to get carried away by the surroundings. This is a business trip, and he's more interested in the Tigers (8-4) finishing on a positive note against No. 24 Oregon State...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan said Wednesday that she will not run for governor in 2008, squelching speculation of a Democratic primary showdown against Attorney General Jay Nixon. Carnahan, the daughter of the late governor Mel Carnahan and former Sen. Jean Carnahan, told The Associated Press she had seriously considered a gubernatorial bid but will instead seek re-election as secretary of state...

Sixth-seeded Advance used dribble penetration and movement away from the ball to build an early 10-point first quarter lead over No. 3 Jackson on Wednesday at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, but the Indians eventually caught on and wore the Hornets down in a 95-70 quarterfinal win at the Show Me Center...

Notre Dame junior post player Ryan Willen owned the paint in Wednesday's quarterfinal meeting with Scott City at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, and the second-seeded Bulldogs owned the game with a 93-65 rout of the seventh-seeded Rams at the Show Me Center...

The first two rounds of the 62nd annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament have been marked by one blowout after another. If ever there was a game that appeared destined to go to the wire it was Wednesday's quarterfinal clash between area Class 1 rivals Bell City and Scott County Central...

ST. LOUIS -- Being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week and the St. Louis Rams' 2006 MVP is nice, running back Steven Jackson said Wednesday, but making the playoffs is more important. To reach the playoffs, the Rams (7-8) must defeat the Minnesota Vikings on the road and have the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons all lose or tie...

CAIRO, Ill. -- The $60 million biodiesel plant planned for Cairo isn't a done deal yet, but actions taken by the city council will help the project along, a spokeswoman for the developer said Wednesday. The council Friday approved four measures designed to aid the project and spur redevelopment in general in the town of 3,600 that has generally heard news of job losses and business closings for much of the past three decades...

The Missouri Veterans Home is seeking volunteers for a hospitality program beginning in February. The home has openings on A wing: morning and afternoon shifts on Saturday and Sunday and the afternoon shift on Wednesday and Friday; and C wing, morning and afternoon shifts on Sunday and afternoon shifts on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday...

Proposed legislation sponsored by state Sen. Chris Koster could raise deputy pay across Missouri. Koster's "Public Safety Enhancement Fund," would provide grant money to counties that pay deputies less than $28,000 a year as of Jan. l through a $10 million grant program funded by the state's general revenue fund...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A newly elected state senator Wednesday blocked the gubernatorial appointment of a private school advocate to the board governing Missouri's public K-12 schools. Sen.-elect Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, said he would not sponsor constituent Donayle Whitmore-Smith for Senate confirmation proceedings to the state Board of Education...

WASHINGTON -- Gerald R. Ford will be mourned in the rare and solemn spectacle of a state funeral crafted to honor his reverence for Congress, the institution that launched him to the presidency. Ceremonies begin Friday in a California church and end five days later with Ford's entombment on a hillside near his Grand Rapids, Mich., presidential museum...

With less than a week away from the start of a new year, many people will resolve to lose weight in 2007. Local fitness centers see an increase of new members after the first of the year, along with the regulars working out more frequently to burn off those holiday pounds, said Amy Sutherlin, fitness manager at Southeast Missouri Hospital's HealthPoint Plaza...

It was, even by Tiger Woods' standards, an exceptional year: eight PGA Tour victories, including a stretch of six in a row that took him from the British Open to the beginning of October. What made that finish most remarkable, though, was the loss that preceded it. For anyone who's watched Woods dismantle opponents and golf courses alike and come away wondering if he was indeed human, the May death of his beloved father Earl was a heartbreaking reminder he is...

~ The Red Raiders coach goes for his 880th win tonight. LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance walked into a convenience store in Lake Placid, N.Y., last summer, 1,658 miles from his campus. The clerk looked up, noticed the Tech logo on his T-shirt and said:~ The Red Raiders coach goes for his 880th win tonight...