Stories from Wednesday, February 7, 2007

LEWISTOWN, Mo. (AP) -- Lewistown residents -- at least some of them -- were going home Wednesday. The entire northeast Missouri town -- its population estimated at 580 by the U.S. Census in 2005 -- was evacuated Sunday due to a leaking propane tank. Starting Wednesday morning, residents in some parts of town gathered at the Lewis County Fairgrounds. Each resident was to be accompanied by utility workers who were checking each home to make sure it was safe before utilities were turned on again...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A key legislator says a measure to cut taxes on Social Security and other retiree benefits may be illegal. The House Special Committee on Tax Reform endorsed the proposal Tuesday in Jefferson City, but chairman Rep. Bryan Stevenson later said the bill violated a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision that barred states from taxing some public pensions while exempting others...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two teenagers were recovering Wednesday after their rescue from a frigid lake in suburban St. Louis. Michael "Frankie" Ho, 16, and Michael Throgmorton, 15, had ventured 75 feet from shore when they fell through a soft patch of ice near the lake's center Tuesday night, said Battalion Chief John Moody with the Community Fire Protection District in Overland...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's transportation system is "improving dramatically," thanks to a funding bump but is headed toward a cliff unless the state finds a way to offset a funding drop-off in three years, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Multiple explosions at a chemical distribution facility shook an industrial area of Kansas City Wednesday, sending an ominous smoke cloud above the downtown skyline and prompting the evacuation of nearby schools and businesses...

"If you build it, they will come." That, of course, was the catch phrase from 1989's "Field of Dreams," starring Kevin Costner. It was spoken by a disembodied voice encouraging an Iowa corn farmer to plow over his crops and build a baseball diamond...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- A Chaffee police officer is charged with four counts of misdemeanor patronizing prostitution, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said Tuesday. The charge is for offering something to another person so that person or a third person will engage in sexual conduct...

State lawmakers are looking at legislation that might change the minds of those reluctant to buckle up. House Bill 90, introduced by state Rep. Neal St. Onge, R-Ballwin, to the Missouri House of Representatives would allow law enforcement officers to stop motorists to give them tickets for not wearing seat belts...

Tuesday was a night of churning stomachs for library supporters, but in the end Cape Girardeau voters approved the expansion of the public library by 119 votes. The measure asked for an $8.9 million addition to the Cape Girardeau Public Library to be funded by doubling the portion of the property tax for library use on homes within the Cape Girardeau district. The final tally was 1,249 votes for the measure, 1,130 against...

The Cape Girardeau school board has extended superintendent Dr. David Scala's contract for another two years. The board took that action in closed session late Monday night on a 5-2 vote. Board members Charles Bertrand and Tom Reinagel voted against the two-year extension...

A 35-year-old Jackson woman is in custody Tuesday accused of stealing money from the Jackson post office. Jackson police interviewed Amanda S. Overbeck on Monday, who reportedly confessed to the theft and to possessing a controlled substance, according to a police release Tuesday...

A Bernie, Mo., man was seriously injured in a traffic accident Monday after his vehicle was struck by a school bus. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, an accident occurred at 4 p.m. on U.S. 60 at Route FF, two miles west of Sikeston, as northbound motorist Carl A. ...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau will move into the H&H building at 400 Broadway next month, a three-block move from the space at 100 Broadway. "It's a very appealing location. It's move-in ready, so it needs no rehab or renovation. It's smaller, but to be perfectly honest we're not using every square foot of the building we're in right now," said CVB executive director Chuck Martin...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- A Southern Illinois historic preservation group wants to raise $100,000 or more erect statues to commemorate the Lincoln-Douglas debate that occurred in Jonesboro on Sept. 15, 1858. The group, Promoting Appreciation of Structural Treasures or PAST, wants to have two life-size, bronze statutes sculpted depicting Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. The statues would be erected at Lincoln Memorial Park in Jonesboro, the site of the famous debate...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- A Cobden, Ill., woman charged with solicitation to murder appeared in Union County court Tuesday. Valorie Spurlock, 42, appeared for arraignment before Circuit Judge Mark M. Boie. Spurlock was indicted by a Union County grand jury last month for murder solicitation, possession of methamphetamine precursors, child endangerment and participation in methamphetamine production...

BARDSTOWN, Ky. -- A fast-moving blaze killed 10 people early Tuesday -- six of them children -- in Kentucky's deadliest house fire in at least 30 years. Two people were injured. Neighbors said the pair had to be prevented from running back into the flames in an attempt to rescue the screaming children...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A NASA astronaut accused of trying to kidnap a romantic rival for a space shuttle pilot's affections was charged with attempted first-degree murder Tuesday and jailed on $25,000 bail. "The intent was there to do serious bodily injury or death," said Orlando Police Sgt. Barb Jones, referring to a new steel mallet, knife, rubber tubing and large garbage bags that police found in Lisa Marie Nowak's possession...

WASHINGTON -- The Democratic-controlled House will vote next week on a nonbinding measure opposing President Bush's decision to dispatch more troops to Iraq, officials said Tuesday, in a wartime clash between Congress and commander in chief. The precise nature of the measure remains to be determined, the officials said, although Brendan Daly, a spokeswoman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said, it will be "our opposition to the surge" in troops...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Palestinian factions on the brink of civil war gathered Tuesday in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, in a last-ditch effort to end their bloody conflict. The Saudi-led push is key to any future peace talks with Israel -- and to Arab efforts to blunt Iran's growing power. ...

PARIS -- Nearly 60 countries signed a treaty on Tuesday that bans governments from holding people in secret detention, but the United States and some of its key European allies were not among them. The signing capped a quarter-century of efforts by families of people who have vanished at the hands of governments. ...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki complained Tuesday the long-awaited Baghdad security operation was off to a slow start and warned that insurgents are taking advantage of the delay to kill as many people as possible. But he also reassured Iraqis that security forces will live up to their responsibilities...

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration wants to impose a new user fee on commercial barges to help pay for the soaring cost of maintaining the nation's river channels. But barge operators say they already pay steep taxes to keep the Mississippi River and other waterways navigable. And the director of the SEMO Port Authority, Dan Overby, said the plan could hinder port operations if the fees force shippers to switch to rail or truck carriers...

Jennifer Claire Ireland, 27, of Blue Springs, Mo., passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at North Kansas City Hospital. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John LaLande Catholic Church. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Blue Springs...

John W. Dalton, 96, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. He was born Oct. 9, 1910, in Jackson, son of Henry and Anne Taylor Dalton. Dalton was the former owner of Dalton Florist in Jackson. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Scottish Rite, Shrine Club, and was a 32nd Degree Mason...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Jewel Reimler, 88, of Advance died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 1, 1918, near Advance, daughter of Fred C. and Minnie I. Taylor Croy. She and Chris F. Reimler were married Oct. 26, 1935, at Jackson. He died March 30, 1976...

Regina L. Brown, 28, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy Mae von Schlutter, 77, of Burbank, Ill., formerly of Neelys Landing, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Harry Emerson Coleson, 74, of Olive Branch died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at his home, following an extended illness. He was born Feb. 13, 1932, in Pulaski, Ill., son of Lloyd Edgar Coleson and Ruby Bell Harp Coleson Rogers. He and Mary Marie Deweese were married Jan. 28, 1961, in Olive Branch...

Cape Girardeau: Arrests; DWI; Thefts; Property damage; Miscellaneous; DWI; Arrests; Summons; Thefts; Property damage; Miscellaneous; Jackson: Arrest; Thefts; Property damage; Miscellaneous

Thompson; Ford; Unterreiner; Rhodes

NEW YORK -- As anticipated, the Super Bowl and "American Idol" overshadowed everything on television last week. But for executives in the TV industry, there was another reason why it was an important week: They finally got the chance to learn what college students think...

The Jackson girls basketball team struggled shooting the basketball Tuesday night and needed six free throws in the final minute to push past rival Central 46-39 at the Show Me Center. The Indians led by as few as three points twice in the final minute, but they hit six straight free throws down the stretch to hold off the Tigers. Jackson (15-5) has won three straight after dropping back-to-back games to Notre Dame and Nerinx Hall on consecutive nights...

The Jackson boys basketball team could not take advantage of a huge size advantage against short-handed Central on Tuesday night at the Show Me Center, but the Indians had enough to squeak by the rival Tigers 55-49 in a battle of district foes. The Indians have five players 6-foot-3 or taller in their rotation, while Central used just two players listed at 6-3 or taller. But Jackson post players Hunter Grantham and Antonio Garritano had just nine points combined through three quarters...

Every year for the past 29, Southeast Missouri State University has invited high schools in the region to enter the best artwork by their juniors and seniors in an exhibit at the University Museum. This year more than 500 entries were received from 25 high schools in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois...

Centerre Bank, formerly First National Bank, last week finalized its contract for purchase of four acres of land at the southeast corner of Independence Street and Mount Auburn Road as the site for its new main banking home. While they're not ready to slam the floodgates and break out the sandbags, river watchers are keeping an eye on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers for potential flooding this spring...

By Rod Jetton There has been much discussion concerning my decision to replace state Rep. Scott Lipke of Jackson as a committee chair. Legislative leaders in our region have urged me to explain my actions and clarify the situation. The problem centers on Jessica's Law that we passed last year. As chairman of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety, Lipke sponsored and handled this bill as it moved through the legislature...

Choir performances; Spending priorities; Paying for basics; Cooperative effort; Sparkling post office; Political machine; Keep out of jail; Getting donations; Pick and choose; Not a military threat; Preschool benefits; Running for governor

My daughter, Lexie, will be celebrating her 10th birthday in a couple of days, and that calls for a party. My husband and I love getting together with family to celebrate important milestones in the lives of our children, especially a birthday. The other night Lexie said, "Mom, in one week I will be double digits!" How important some things are when you are 10...

The peanut, an underused food source for birds, is now beginning to attract the attention of bird aficionados. Interest in the peanut has peaked because it has several advantages for both birds and for the person who feeds them. Although I am not a bird nutritionist, I understand peanuts are packed with calories in the form of carbohydrates and fats. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Two Missouri lawmakers are challenging a National Football League policy prohibiting local television stations from covering games on the sidelines. Legislation filed Tuesday would force the NFL to allow local TV cameras on the sidelines of games hosted by the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams, both of whom play in publicly subsidized stadiums. Media denied reasonable sideline access could sue for damages...

PAMPLICO, S.C. -- The living room of Sam Ard's brown doublewide trailer speaks to his short but successful NASCAR career. Trophies surround the fireplace and crowd its mantel. Plaques and pictures dot the living room walls. What's not there speaks to Ard's life after NASCAR, the two championship rings and a handful of grandfather clocks from Martinsville Speedway that he sold because "we was running short on cash."...

AMES, Iowa -- Missouri never gave Iowa State the chance to stage another comeback. Stefhon Hannah scored 15 points and Missouri's up-tempo attack gave the Cyclones fits from start to finish as the Tigers thumped Iowa State 77-55 Tuesday night. Matt Lawrence had 13 and Kalen Grimes added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers (14-8, 3-6 Big 12). ...

WASHINGTON -- Women with early stage breast cancer may soon get another gene test to help predict whether they'll relapse in five or 10 years, information that could influence how aggressively they fight the initial tumor. The MammaPrint test isn't the nation's first such predictor for breast cancer -- a competitor has sold here since 2004 -- but on Tuesday it became the first to win formal approval from the Food and Drug Administration...

The field in the contest for mayor of Jackson was set Tuesday when John Graham, a businessman who filed a lawsuit to win a ballot slot, lost a ruling from Judge Benjamin Lewis. At the end of more than 90 minutes of argument and testimony, Lewis ruled Graham's failure to pay his property taxes before the last day to file for the mayoral job made him ineligible to run. ...

NEW ORLEANS -- In the neighborhood President Bush visited right after Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. government gave $84.5 million to more than 10,000 households. But Census figures show fewer than 8,000 homes existed there at the time. Now the government wants back a lot of its money...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Biofuels could generate an additional $542 million in economic activity in Missouri each year through 2013, according to a state report released Tuesday. The report, produced by the Department of Economic Development, projects that state subsidies and tax breaks for the ethanol and biodiesel industries would result in a $14.8 million annual loss in state revenue but a net gain in Missourians' personal income of $492 million annually...

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is proposing to shutter its main nuclear reactor and allow U.N. monitoring in return for massive energy shipments and normal relations with the United States, according to an American nuclear expert who visited Pyongyang last week. ...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues ownership, which alienated fans by raising ticket prices shortly after purchasing the franchise that finished last overall in the NHL, announced Tuesday it will cut rates for next season. The majority of the seats in the Scottrade Center will be reduced an average of eight percent...

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- Lew Burdette, MVP of the 1957 World Series when he pitched the Milwaukee Braves to their only championship, died Tuesday. He was 80. Burdette had been ill for an extended period with lung cancer. Family members were with him when he died at home, they told the Atlanta Braves...

Alex Steen snapped a tie late in the second period and Andrew Raycroft made it stand up with strong third-period play in goal, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Tuesday night. Alexei Ponikarovsky added a power-play goal for the Maple Leafs, who have won the first four games of a five-game trip and have won five in a row overall. Toronto has also won eight of nine on the road...

The Notre Dame boys basketball team notched its 20th victory of the season Tuesday night, routing visiting Kennett 85-47. Ryan Willen poured in 30 points for the Bulldogs, who improved to 20-4 overall and 6-1 in SEMO Conference play. Ty Williams added 12 points for the Bulldogs, followed by John Unterreiner with 11 and Austin Greer with 10...

Ice in the Mississippi River is beginning to cause problems for barges north of St. Louis, but the floes passing Cape Girardeau are doing little to hamper river traffic here, area barge operators and port officials said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued rules Monday limiting the width of barge loads passing through locks north of St. Louis. Near zero daytime temperatures have caused the river to ice over quickly, corps spokesman Alan Dooley said...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An explosion at a chemical plant in an industrial area of Kansas City sent a huge smoke cloud above the downtown skyline Wednesday. The explosion and fire in the area known as the East Bottoms, just northeast of downtown, billowed smoke that could be seen for miles. There were no immediate reports of injuries...