Stories from Thursday, March 1, 2007

CAULFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Tornadoes tore through sections of southern Missouri early Thursday, killing a 7-year-old child, destroying a gas station and damaging several mobile homes and houses. Sgt. Marty Elmore of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the child was believed to be a girl. Elmore also said there were unconfirmed reports that others in the Caulfield area were missing...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A St. Louis police officer was hospitalized Thursday after his police car was struck with gunfire. STLtoday.com, the Web site for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said the officer suffered wounds to the shoulder and chin in the incident that happened about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. His wounds were not considered life-threatening...

LEBANON, Mo. (AP) -- A startup radio company plans to purchase The Shepherd Group, which operates 16 small-market radio stations in Missouri, The Lebanon Daily Record reported. DeanRadio.TV LLC will pay a reported $30.6 million, the newspaper reported Wednesday. No staff changes are planned. The Federal Communications Commission must still approve...

Elementary school teacher Elizabeth Babchak has a passion for patriotism that carries over into the classroom. Her father was a veteran of World War II. She tells her students about the sacrifices made by America's veterans. One of her former students is an instructor at West Point...

Feb. 29, 2007 Dear Alvie, We buried you Saturday morning under the new red, purple, yellow and green birdhouse beyond the kitchen window. You loved listening to birds, often lying in the sun for hours in the room where DC keeps her parakeets and finches and love birds...

Wall Street rebounded fitfully Wednesday from the previous session's 416-point plunge in the Dow industrials as investors took comfort from comments by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. Bernanke's remarks to Congress that he still expects moderate economic growth gave some investors confidence to look for bargains. ...

COBDEN, Ill. -- A native of Southern Illinois who happens upon the western Mexican town of Cheran might find some surprising reminders of home. If the visitor keeps his eyes open, he might spot someone wearing a Southern Illinois University Salukis sweat shirt or even a Cobden High School Appleknockers T-shirt. If the visitor walks into a bar and says he's from Illinois, he might be treated to a free drink and asked to pass on greetings to relatives working up north...

The U.S. Small Business Administration wants to increase the amount of loans being made in Southeast Missouri, says Sam Jones, regional administrator for the agency. Jones, based in Kansas City, Mo., visited the Bank of Missouri in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday to increase awareness of SBA programs...

The Missouri Housing Development Commission announced grants to six area service groups this week totaling $360,000. The Community Caring Council received $80,000 for homelessness prevention and the Community Counseling Center of Cape Girardeau received $75,000 for a Fredericktown, Mo., housing project that will include 14 single-bedroom apartments for disabled and mentally ill people. ...

Finding ways to give individuals the skills and tools they need to make a living and have good relationships has long been understood to be better than handouts. The effort to provide training and support is complex, because the most effective programs must recognize the varying needs of each person...

Taxing question; Time to pay; Health costs; Messy testing; Deadly seat belts; Bring back meters; Cairo's image; Slavery apology; Unwise investment; Jail essentials; The price of corn; Smelly business; Ready to trade; Adults' mistakes

By Robert Fulton The Missouri House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 444, which would eliminate Missouri's income tax on Social Security benefits. Speaker Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, Mo., state Sen. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau and state Rep. ...

A report from the Cape Girardeau city manager indicates that one more heavy rain in this area could wipe out two bridges along Cape LaCroix Creek; the foundations of the bridges on East Rodney along Arena Park and on Wilson Road near Shawnee Park were battered by recent high water...

Eccentric and eclectic -- two words that have been used to describe George Winston. On Wednesday night Winston -- a solo guitar, piano and harmonic artist and producer of Hawaiian slack-key guitar recordings -- showed a crowd of about 180 people at Old St. Vincent's Church why those two terms precede him wherever he goes...

Dexter man charged in three car thefts DEXTER, Mo. -- A Dexter man is in jail on charges of stealing three motor vehicles. Michael Vincent Knight, 17, of Dexter was arrested by the Dexter Police Department, Stoddard County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol at 1:30 p.m. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The last time Amanda Cooper saw her 9-month-old son alive was about 10 p.m. Dec. 7, the Perryville resident told Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp on Wednesday. Fourteen hours later the boy's father, Matthew M. Lindsey, telephoned her with the news that their son, Robert M. Lindsey, was dead, she said...

BROOKPORT, Ill. -- Thousands of gallons of a toxic chemical spilled into the Ohio River between Illinois and Kentucky after a barge hit a lock wall, though the substance did not appear to pose a serious hazard, authorities said Wednesday. Between 7,000-8,000 gallons of the petroleum-based chemical cumene poured into the water after the accident, between Brookport and Metropolis, said Lt. Wayne Chapman, a spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department reported a fire at the Q.C. Corp., 5566 Nash Road, at about 11 p.m. Tuesday. About 200 wooden pallets sitting next to the west side of the building were on fire, battalion chief Steve Niswonger said Wednesday. ...

9 a.m. today County Administration Building 1 Barton Square Jackson Routine business n Payroll change form. n Approval from DNR of nomination of Byrd, Abraham House to Missouri Council on Historic Preservation. Action items n None at this time. Discussion items and appointments...

John W. Sutterer, 67, of Perryville died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond Heights, Mo. He was born Oct. 16, 1939, in Perryville, son of Gilbert and Leona Lurk Sutterer. He and Doris M. Biehle were married Sept. 2, 1963, at Biehle, Mo...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Betty Rose Billingsley, 80, of Alvin, Texas, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas. She was born Jan. 30, 1927, in Blaine, Wash., daughter of Bert and Laura Nichols Smith. She married Leo Billingsley, who died June 4, 1987...

Esther Corfiatis, 80, of Overland Park, Kan., died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007. She was born July 29, 1926, near Oak Ridge, daughter of August and Angeline Hopfer Mirly. She and Tony Corfiatis were married May 15, 1948. He died in 1991. Corfiatis was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Overland Park. She and her husband owned and operated a bowling business many years, retiring in 1986...

James Glendon "Sonny" Day, 95, of Scott City died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. He was born Feb. 18, 1912, at Swinton, Mo., son of Lecil Alonzo and Ella Alice Lee Grayum Day. He and Ruby Marie Bruhl were married June 20, 1936, in Cape Girardeau. She died May 24, 1987...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Reda Ragains, 89, of Chaffee died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 3, 1918, in Maynard, Ark., daughter of Alpha Elias and Gussie Norene Johnston Evans. She and Roy William Ragains were married April 22, 1944, in Blytheville, Ark. He died Feb. 17, 2004...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Virginia Ailine Sitzes, 74, of Marble Hill died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at her home. She was born Dec. 12, 1932, at Bessville, Mo., daughter of Earnest W.C. and Dora Mae Pulliam Patton. She and John Charles "J.C." Sitzes were married June 3, 1950. He died Oct. 6, 1990...

Julie Glastetter, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lillian M. Nenninger, 93, of Jackson died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, at her home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- James Albert Tellor, 80, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 17, 1926, in Alto Pass, Ill., son of the Rev. Louis H. and Grace Miller Tellor. He and Edna E. Baltzell were married Jan. 11, 1945, in Cobden, Ill...

PATTON, Mo. -- Bessie "Jane" Barnes, 77, of Las Cruces, N.M., died Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Trinity Haven Health Center in Midland, Texas. She was formerly of Marble Hill and Patton, Mo. She was born Sept. 26, 1929, daughter of the Rev. Charles R. and Mary Ethel Bell Baker. She married Otis Barnes...

Dale Willard Fronabarger, 92, of Oak Ridge died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. He was born Jan. 18, 1915, in Oak Ridge, son of Albert Marion and Shrilda Catherine Sawyer Fronabarger. He and Verda Lou Phelps were married Dec. 24, 1939. She died Jan. 1, 2004...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Helen Irene Fiehler, 79, of St. Charles died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at St. Joseph Health Center. She was born Aug. 12, 1927, at Brazeau, Mo., daughter of George and Onida Fiehler. She married Ralph Henry "Bud" Fiehler. Fiehler was a secretary 25 years at McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in St. Charles, VFW Auxiliary Post 5077 and Cooties Pup Tent 5...

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Edna Marie Smith Weeks, 71, of Bell City passed away Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at her home. She was born April 19, 1935, in St. Louis, daughter of Thomas and Lucretia Noles Smith McBride and John McBride. She and Ronnie Weeks were united in marriage Oct. 28, 1951, at Mesler, Mo...

n At 5:16 p.m., medical assist in the 200 block of North Sprigg Street. n At 5:29 p.m., alarm sounding at 2598 Saddlegate Court. n At 5:33 p.m., illegal burn at 508 Cape Meadows Circle. n At 5:47 p.m., medical assist at 3000 Wisteria Lane. n At 6:44 p.m., medical assist in the 100 block of North West End Boulevard...

Arrests

The Cape Girardeau area Chamber of Commerce will hold its First Friday Coffee starting with a continental breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday at the Show Me Center. This month's program will be about internship possibilities in business, presented by the internship subcommittee of the Chamber, sponsored by Contours Express and the UPS Store. The program begins at about 7:40 a.m...

Cape Girardeau police pursued a car at speeds of up to 80 mph early Wednesday before discontinuing the chase on Old Sprigg Street Road. Lt. Barry Hovis said an officer became suspicious of a vehicle leaving the Quality Car Wash driveway at 1354 Mount Auburn Road at a high rate of speed at about 4 a.m. ...

Spots are filling up fast for the upcoming Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Judging School. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 24 at the Eagles Aerie 3775, 321 North Spring St. in Cape Girardeau. Registration deadline is March 9. Included in the cost are all class materials, food, a certified judge badge, a one-year membership in KCBS and a year subscription to the society's newsletter...

The Scott City First Assembly of God will hold all-you-can-eat fish fries throughout Lent. The next one will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at 312 Dearborn in Scott City. Every Friday during Lent there will be a dine-in or carryout plate lunch from 11 a.m. ...

n Great Decisions 2007 will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays in the Hirsch Community Room. Great Decisions, sponsored by the library and the Center for Regional History, encourages citizens to voice their opinions and concerns about current world issues at meetings held today (climate change and global warming), March 8 (Mexico), March 15 (international migration in a globalizing economy), March 29 (South Africa: Facing New Challenges). Free; open to the public...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, accounting for nearly one-third of women's deaths annually. Health officials are warning that women often experience different heart attack symptoms than men. Women can have subtle symptoms, said Dr. Wendi Carns, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Cape Care for Women...

As the days of our lives get shorter, I find myself seized by a strange new obsession -- simplicity. I really don't think I am alone. A landscaper told me that his older clients are always asking him to cut down their trees. Why? Because they want less to deal with. I notice more and more women, as they get older, looking like they get their flagrantly gray hair cut at a barber shop. I actually had the cheek to ask one such woman why the butch haircut. Her answer? It is simpler...

Hospital offers new breast cancer radiation therapy Women with early-stage breast cancer receiving radiation therapy at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Regional Cancer Center have a new treatment option -- the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System. The Regional Cancer Center is the only hospital in southern Missouri and one of a few across the nation to offer the therapy, which may be an option for women with small Stage I or Stage II tumors. ...

WASHINGTON -- The first question from jurors at the perjury trial of ex-White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby prompted a lot of head-scratching Wednesday but shed little light on their progress. The jury, now down to seven women and four men, stumbled briefly over legal language in one of the five counts against the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney...

NEW YORK -- Many states are distressingly lax in their regulation and oversight of child-care centers, according to a new nationwide survey that gives its lowest marks to Idaho and Louisiana and its highest grade to the far-flung system run by the U.S. military...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Florida appeals court Wednesday upheld a judge's ruling that allowed Anna Nicole Smith to be buried in the Bahamas, agreeing evidence supports that's what the former Playboy Playmate wanted. The starlet's estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, challenged last week's ruling by Judge Larry Seidlin, who gave control of the body to an advocate for Smith's 5-month-old daughter. Arthur wanted to bury the starlet in her native Texas...

Salvation Army auction to be held Friday Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday for the Salvation Army's Annual Men's Club Auction. Items on the auction block have been donated by local businesses. Examples include gift cards and/or certificates to local restaurants, household items, car maintenance certificates, T-shirts and flower arrangements. A concession stand will be available. Auctioneer is L.R. Brandes. Checks or cash accepted at the end of the session...

ADDO ELEPHANT PARK, South Africa -- The majestic male elephant ambled through the dense bush to the water hole, extending his trunk in greeting to two young females, April and Aqua, their mother Aran and grandmother Agatha. The captivating scene is repeated in parks throughout South Africa, where the elephant population has catapulted from near extinction to explosion -- prompting the government to reconsider its ban on killing the mighty beasts...

TOKYO -- Declassified documents reveal that Japanese ultranationalists with ties to U.S. military intelligence plotted to overthrow the Japanese government and assassinate the prime minister in 1952. The scheme -- which was abandoned -- was concocted by militarists and suspected war criminals who had worked for U.S. occupation authorities after World War II, according to CIA records reviewed by The Associated Press. The plotters wanted a right-wing government that would rearm Japan...

VIENNA, Austria -- Abuse of prescription drugs is about to exceed the use of illicit street narcotics worldwide, and the shift has spawned a lethal new trade in counterfeit painkillers, sedatives and other medicines potent enough to kill, a global watchdog warned Wednesday...

PARIS -- At least two Picasso paintings worth a total of nearly $66 million were stolen from the house of the artist's granddaughter in Paris, police said Wednesday. The paintings, "Maya and the Doll" and "Portrait of Jacqueline," disappeared overnight Monday to Tuesday from the chic 7th arrondissement, or district, a Paris police official said...

FARMINGTON -- After playing one of the best first halves of its season Friday in the Clas 5 district finals, the Jackson boys basketball team struggled out the gate Tuesday in a sectional game and fell to Lindbergh 44-37 at the Farmington Civic Center...

The Notre Dame boys basketball never trailed as it marched into the Class 4 quarterfinals Tuesday night with a 72-60 sectional victory over the Farmington Knights at Mineral Area College in Park Hills. The Bulldogs improved to 25-5 and will try to book their second trip in three years to the final four when they face St. Clair on Saturday night at the Farmington Civic Center...

Jamal Lewis, whose 2,066 yards rushing in 2003 were the second most in NFL history, was cut by the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. Lewis was one of several players released as teams maneuvered to find salary cap space before the free-agent period started Friday. However, the Ravens said they are still attempting to re-sign Lewis...

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- NASCAR wants to speed up implementation of its Car of Tomorrow to have it in use full-time by 2008, officials said Wednesday. The COT will debut March 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the first of 16 races this season for the car designed to improve racing, bolster safety and cut team costs. The car was scheduled to run 26 races in 2008, and the full Nextel Cup schedule in 2009...

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Lovie Smith got a contract extension and a raise, nearly a month after a Super Bowl appearance and a week after his agent said negotiations were so stalled the Chicago Bears coach would probably leave after the 2007 season. After meeting Wednesday with team president Ted Phillips, Smith signed a four-year contract extension through 2011. The deal was announced by the team Wednesday night as was an extension through 2013 for general manager Jerry Angelo...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Roger Federer showed off a circus shot while extending his career-best winning streak to 38 matches, defeating Daniele Bracciali 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open. The top-seeded Federer next will face seventh-seeded Novak Djokovic, who beat Rainer Schuettler 7-6 (5), 6-3...

ST. LOUIS -- The last eight regular-season Missouri Valley Conference champions have stumbled before the NCAA tournament. No. 11 Southern Illinois has the pedigree to end that trend when the conference's four-day tournament starts today. The top-seeded Salukis (25-5) have the highest ranking in school history, the conference player of the year, a 15-3 league record and an 11-game winning streak...

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University officials approved a resolution Wednesday that allows the athletics program at its Edwardsville campus to seek a promotion to NCAA Division I. The reclassification would take five years. During that time, SIUE would have to seek a conference affiliation and raise money to cover the larger budget needed for staffing, recruiting and facilities...

By Stephen Wallace Targeting the world-changing tenacity of youth, the Ad Council, in partnership with AAA (American Automobile Association) and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), has launched an impressive public-service advertising campaign designed to combat complacency and trigger an avalanche of adolescent activism to defeat distracted -- and dangerous -- driving...

NEW ORLEANS -- Mayor Ray Nagin announces a plan to rebuild the city with Legos. And the Army Corps of Engineers is thinking of a new slogan: "YOU try building things with government screwdrivers." Those are some of the parody news stories in the New Orleans Levee, a wickedly satirical newspaper about this woeful city...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Senior night turned out to be a huge night for Marcus Watkins. The seldom-used backup forward got his first start of the season in his home finale, largely as a ceremonial nod, and responded with career highs of 15 points and a team-leading six rebounds in Missouri's 91-82 victory over Colorado on Wednesday night...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The House voted to effectively ban illegal immigrants from the state's colleges and universities and require institutions to guarantee to lawmakers that they have "not knowingly admitted" anyone in the country illegally. The measure, endorsed by 122-35 vote Wednesday, would codify existing federal requirements. Universities that cannot certify that illegal immigrants are not enrolled could face financial penalties...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A state senator proposed Wednesday to allow the death penalty for people who kidnap and sexually abuse children -- a response to a nationally watched case in which a St. Louis man is accused of kidnapping and abusing two boys...

The West Coast had BALCO. Now the East Coast could be in the midst of its own steroid scandal. An illicit steroid distribution network, which may be responsible for Internet sales of performance-enhancing drugs nationwide, has been targeted by an upstate New York prosecutor. Customers reportedly included Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and former baseball star Jose Canseco...

FARMINGTON -- The Jackson girls basketball team used its 3-point game along with another strong defensive effort to push its way into the state quarterfinal round with a 45-35 win Wednesday over Mehlville in the Class 5 sectionals at the Farmington Civic Center...

JUPITER, Fla. -- For Adam Wainwright, spring training is off to a nice start. The World Series closer, bidding for a place in the St. Louis Cardinals' rebuilt rotation, pitched three hitless innings Wednesday to help beat the Florida Marlins 6-3 in the exhibition opener for both teams...

Gordonville farmer John Lorberg sees the immediate future of farming in a more optimistic way than he did just a few years ago. Back then, planting many acres of corn was a risky proposition. The yellow crop just wasn't very profitable. "It's been slim for the last I don't know how many years," Lorberg said. "With $2 corn, you can't make any money."...