Stories from Friday, July 6, 2007

NEVADA, Mo. (AP) -- A Liberal-based biofuel company has been given the go-ahead by federal regulators to begin soliciting investors for a new ethanol plant to be built near Nevada, Mo. Kerry Rose, president of Ozark Ethanol LLC, said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved construction of an ethanol plant with a capacity of more than 50 million gallons a year...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt, who twice ran unsuccessfully for president, has endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential bid. Clinton's campaign said Thursday that Gephardt will serve an an economic adviser and a co-chairman of her campaign...

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) -- Former President Bill Clinton took a break from campaigning for his presidential candidate wife and took the stage Thursday on behalf of another Democrat, Harry Truman. "It's a different world with a different set of challenges," Clinton said. "Oh, we've changed a lot. ... But Truman is still highly relevant in this increasingly interdependent world and our increasingly diverse society."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri abortion providers will face new regulations for their clinics and new restrictions on teaching sex education classes. Gov. Matt Blunt is signing legislation placing more abortion clinics under government oversight by classifying them as ambulatory surgical centers. Planned Parenthood claims the law could force it to spend more than $1 million to remodel some of its buildings...

A $102,919 federal grant will allow the city of Cape Girardeau to install flashing beacons and signs to warn motorists to slow down in front of schools, city officials said Friday. The Missouri Department of Transportation awarded the grant as part of the Safe Routes to School program. The program is designed to encourage children to walk or ride their bicycles to school...

Rising health care costs are "going to bust our budget," U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson told members of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce gathered for the First Friday breakfast. In a short talk touching on several issues pending before Congress, Emerson noted that there are 80 million "Baby Boomers" headed toward retirement in coming years and 40 million people without health insurance. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The state Supreme Court upholds a decision awarding a new sentencing hearing for a death row inmate convicted of strangling a 13-year-old girl. Travis Glass was sentenced to die for the May 2001 murder of Steffini Wilkins, of Hannibal...

A Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department sergeant foiled an escape attempt by a convicted rapist after the prisoner's guard allegedly fell asleep early Friday morning at Saint Francis Medical Center. Leonard L. Rosenboom, 23, formerly of De Soto, Mo., held a Bic pen to the neck of Richard Lindeman, the corrections officer guarding him, and said, "I have three life sentences, and I'm getting out of here," according to a sworn statement made by John Volkerding, investigator for the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office.. ...

The Missouri cycling tour planned for Sept. 11 through 16 will now feature the best team in the world. The world's No. 1 ranked Team Discovery Channel, Lance Armstrong's former crew, will ride in what Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder called a chance to "knit" the state together...

At Southeast Missouri State University's Redhawks Kids Camp, the goal is simple: Keep the children active. "You will not see us showing a video in the morning," said Troy Vaughn, director of recreation services at Southeast. "We are about fun. We are about keeping them busy," he said as children slid down a wet black tarpaulin on a grassy hillside in front of the school's Student Recreation Center North. "The greatest compliment that we have is that kids come home tired."...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- A Chaffee man was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged in connection with a weekend arson and burglary. Anthony Siebert, 23, of 111 S. Main St., is being held in the Scott County Jail on three felony charges. The fire, which occurred Saturday afternoon at a home on Seibert Lane in Chaffee, was caused by flammable liquids poured throughout the house, according to a fire marshal investigator. ...

Every time the power flashes, it means about an hour's worth of lost production for the Mid-South Wire Co. plant in Scott City. Over the past few months, possibly as long as six months, according to Scott City Mayor Tim Porch, those flashes have been happening frequently. For Mid-South, Scott City's newest production facility, that means lost money...

Woozy about 'Sicko'; Kudos to police; Getting what you want; Where is the justice?; Shredding Constitution; Ban fireworks; Beyond words; Bashing the rich

Before starting my internship here, I listened to horror stories from friends who had spent their summer days making lots of coffee and doing busy work. I'm more of a guinea pig. First, my employers sent me to the Cape Girardeau Fire Department's Media Day, where I got to crawl around in a burning room. Thursday they sent me to fly above Cape Girardeau with the Red Baron Pizza Squadron...

WASHINGTON -- Ice-covered Greenland really was green a half-million or so years ago, covered with forests in a climate much like that of Sweden and eastern Canada today. An international team of researchers recovered ancient DNA from the bottom of an ice core that indicates the presence of pine, yew and alder trees as well as insects...

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. -- A 16-year-old Excelsior Springs girl died after the vehicle she was driving through a flooded crossing was swept into a creek. Brooke Baxter's body was found Wednesday night inside the submerged vehicle in Williams Creek, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. The sport utility vehicle she was in was carried about 100 yards downstream from the crossing in Excelsior Springs...

Crowell honored as legislator of year State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, was honored as the senator of the year at the 87th annual Veterans of Foreign Wars state convention in Columbia, Mo., last week. "Sen. Crowell played a central role in this legislative session that secured several victories for veterans in the state of Missouri," said Dewey Riehn, Missouri chairman of the VFW National Legislative Committee. ...

The first heat wave of the summer has Cape Girardeau firmly in its grasp; for the second straight day, Cape Girardeau had the highest temperature in the state yesterday; Monday's reading was 95 degrees; Sunday's was 98 degrees. Members of the Cape Girardeau City Council meet privately to discuss a proposed abortion ordinance, action an authority on Missouri's open meetings law calls "ridiculous" and which Mayor Howard C. Tooke later admits may have been inappropriate...

MAKANDA, Ill. -- It looks like a favorite hangout in this Southern Illinois town might be getting a bit more crowded. That's because the Giant City Lodge, known affectionately as "the lodge" by locals, was just named one of 10 places in Illinois as a "Local Secret, Big Find" by the travel search engine Travelocity...

A new law could give Missouri lawmakers an unfair advantage in getting college teaching jobs, some higher education officials say. The newly passed provision bars public universities from denying jobs to state legislators on the grounds that they do not have a graduate degree. The measure was included in the bill Gov. Blunt signed to sell some assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department continued to search Thursday for an Illinois man who allegedly shot a man in the arm. Brannon Mackins, 19, of Mounds, Ill., was charged Tuesday with two felonies, first-degree assault and armed criminal action. According to police reports, Mackins shot John Lee Tate, 26, of Cape Girardeau, in the left arm after an altercation at 2833 Themis St. where Tate works...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky bourbon whiskey is commonly mixed with water or soda, but wine? Brown-Forman Corp. has put a new twist on its premium Woodford Reserve bourbon with a limited edition variation distinct for spending a few months aging in the company's Sonoma-Cutrer wine barrels...

Cape Girardeau's new airline won't be following a trend to add new regional jets with first-class seats, roomier cabins and, in some cases, hot food. Many carriers are hoping business travelers tired of a cramped 50-seat jet will pay extra for a flight experience closer to what they get on a mainline jet. The addition could help airlines turn a profit on flights that have been a loss-leader feeding traffic into long-haul flights, although rising fuel prices could complicate the plan...

CHICAGO -- The last U.S. plant that slaughtered horses for human consumption will remain closed after a federal judge Thursday dismissed its challenge to the state law that shut it down. The Cavel International Inc. plant in DeKalb, Ill., closed last week after U.S. District Court Judge Frederick J. Kapala in Rockford denied its request to continue operating while the case was being considered...

Subway train derails in London, 37 injured LONDON -- A subway train derailed in London during morning rush hour Thursday. About 900 passengers were evacuated after the westbound Central Line train derailed between the Bethnal Green and Mile End stations in east London, police said. ...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Gunfire and explosions rocked a besieged radical mosque in Pakistan's capital Thursday as Islamic militants holed up in the complex snubbed a surrender plea from their captured leader. The leader of the holdouts said they would consider leaving but only if authorities promised not to arrest anyone and met other demands. The government answered that the militants must surrender without conditions, and outbursts of gunfire erupted periodically during the night...

GENEVA, Switzerland -- The Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome and Peru's Machu Picchu are leading contenders to be among the new seven wonders of the world, as a massive poll draws to a close with votes already cast by more than 90 million people, organizers say...

NEW YORK -- Given all that's at stake in the 2008 presidential race, it's a bit terrifying to realize that by one measure, a major role is being played by an aspiring model/actress/fashion designer/former beauty pageant contestant named Amber. That's Amber Lee Ettinger, aka Obama Girl, whose racy Web video "I Got A Crush On Obama" has gotten more than 2 million hits in the three weeks it's been online, making it one of the most-watched political videos this season...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Marcella L. Johnson, 69, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at the home of a daughter in Carterville, Ill. She was born Feb. 10, 1938, in Carbondale, Ill., daughter of William and Katie Hunsaker Crawford. She and Chester Johnson were married in February 1972. He died Oct. 5, 1995...

Graveside service for Jerry Edward Stone of Rosiclare, Ill., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Vienna Fraternal Cemetery in Vienna, Ill. The Rev. C.W. "Chuck" Jackson will officiate. Stone, 80, died Monday, July 2, 2007, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Ill...

The thrills of the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival return today and Saturday. The show called "Heroes & Legends" begins at 6:30 tonight and at 3:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Gates open at 5 tonight and at 11 a.m. Saturday...

Evelyn Lavern Cooper, 83, of Austin, Texas, died Thursday, July 5, 2007, at The Summit at West Lake Hills in Austin. She is formerly of Oran, Mo. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

William Clark Evans, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at his home. He was born Aug. 27, 1937, in Cape Girardeau, son of William Bernard and Venita Clark Evans. He and Dorthylyn Jane Kaltwasser were married Dec. 25, 1960 in Altenburg, Mo...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Myrtle M. Hitt, 85, of Advance passed away Thursday, July 5, 2007, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born May 2, 1922, in Advance, daughter of Will and Maude Helderman Jenkins. She and Leo Hitt were married April 27, 1946. He died June 22, 1982...

Lucy Mae Reynolds, 92, of Aurora, Ill., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at Aurora Rehab and Living Center. She was born Jan. 14, 1915, in Vanduser, Mo., daughter of Elvis A. and Ella N. Campbell Blanchard. She and Elbert A. Reynolds were married Dec. 25, 1952, in Hammond, Ind. He died Oct 27, 1988...

Cochran; Stout; Elfrink; Brock; DeLuca; Brewer; Craft; Miller; Stone; LaMar; Fletcher; Hottes

Arrests; Assault; Arrests

n At 7:17 p.m., an alarm call at 1504 N. Henderson Ave. n At 9:14 p.m., citizen assist in the 1400 block of South West End Boulevard n At 10:12 p.m., emergency medical service at Ellis and Linden streets. n At 10:27 p.m., emergency medical service in the 700 block of Broadway...

The gasoline-electric hybrid car with the lowest starting price in America is no longer a Toyota or a Honda. It's the Saturn Aura Green Line sedan. This newest version of the midsize, five-passenger Aura retains the handsome looks and commendable handling of a regular Aura while combining a 164-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with electric motor assist -- all for a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $22,695...

NEW YORK -- Live Earth organizers have gone to considerable lengths to marry the global event's methods with its message, but they've been called hypocrites by critics as varied as a congressman and a member of the Who. Live Earth on Saturday will hold eight concerts that bring together more than 150 acts to perform for arena-size audiences from Australia to New Jersey. ...

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- A Brazilian judge ruled Thursday that South America's Live Earth concert could go ahead as planned after organizers convinced her there would be adequate security at the Copacabana Beach event. The office of the prosecutor who had sought to cancel the concert confirmed Judge Maria Galhardo had reversed her earlier decision to nix the show...

Garrett Broshuis laughed during a telephone interview when it was suggested that he has to be at the top of the professional baseball list of pitchers having the most tough-luck season. Broshuis, an Advance High School graduate who plays for the Connecticut Defenders, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, ranks 11th in the Class AA Eastern League with a 3.48 ERA...

Southeast Missouri State's defense was hit hard by graduation as several of the unit's top players completed their eligibility last season. And the Redhawks' defense will be without an additional key player this year. Outside linebacker Monroe Hicks is no longer with the program as he did not meet NCAA academic requirements...

LOS ANGELES -- Summertime in Hollywood is not as hot as it looked at the beginning. While the three May blockbusters -- Sony's "Spider-Man 3," DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third" and Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" -- have combined for nearly $1 billion in domestic revenue, overall business and movie attendance are well below the record pace many show-business types had expected...

CINCINNATI -- Barry Bonds will sit out of the Home Run Derby on Monday night, opting to rest his tired body before Tuesday night's All-Star game. "Nope," Bonds said Thursday when asked about the Derby. "Especially when you're 42. It's not that you don't want to, it's that you just can't anymore. You can't. It's too long. Too much waiting. Too much sitting around. You can't do that."...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- When NASCAR suspended crew chief Tony Eury Jr. for six weeks, he figured he'd take his wife on an overdue Hawaiian vacation. Then he found a loophole in his punishment: Although he couldn't be in the garage area, NASCAR wasn't banning him from track property. And he was only forbidden from using the team's radio communications, but text messaging, cell phones and instant messenger were fine to use...

ST. LOUIS -- Before Miguel Montero made contact, St. Louis second baseman Aaron Miles was poised for another of the Cardinals' season-high five double plays. Miles started the last twin-killing on Montero's bouncer with the bases loaded, finishing off the 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night and giving the Cardinals consecutive one-run victories for only the second time this season...

Tiger Woods stood at the third tee, soaking wet from a sudden downpour and frustrated by bogeys on the first two holes of his own tournament. It didn't get any better after that. After a brief rain delay, Woods continued to be a much more gracious host than he had planned. By the time his round was over, he had missed a 2-foot tap-in, hit a man in the face with a drive and tossed his putter in frustration at his bag several times...

WIMBLEDON, England -- Now Roger Federer has a taste of what Rafael Nadal and plenty of others have been going through at this wettest of Wimbledons. Off for nearly a week, four-time reigning champion Federer finally returned to the court Thursday for his quarterfinal against 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero. After 37 minutes and less than a set, drizzles forced them to stop -- and more than three hours later, everyone was sent home for the day...

Four stars (out of four) Though Transformers were not my toy of choice as a child (say what you will about nature vs. nurture, I loved me some Barbie dolls), I did have quite an exposure to them through my older brothers in the '80s and from my nephews in recent years. ...

Peg MacDougall's Edward Bernard Gallery seems like something of an outsider in the local arts scene -- at least in terms of geography. Peg's gallery isn't clustered at the epicenter of the local art offerings that happen each First Friday. The place isn't on Main Street, Water Street or Spanish Street...

NEW YORK -- Although Dave Matthews' face is never seen in the new movie "Joshua," he plays a crucial role in the spooky film, writing the song the demented child character croons as the film draws to a close. "I wanted it to be delivered in a sweet way by the boy, but I also wanted it to be really horrifying," the singer told The Associated Press...

McGinty returning for local shows this month; River City Players to present 'Greater Tuna'; 'Iron City' open now at Saint Louis Art Museum; Columbia to host bluegrass festival; -- From staff reports

New at the theaters: 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'; STILL PLAYING: '1408'; 'Evan Almighty'; 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'; 'Knocked Up'; 'License to Wed'; 'Live Free or Die Hard'; 'Nancy Drew'; 'Ocean's 13'; 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'; 'Ratatouille'; 'Shrek the Third'; 'Surf's Up'; 'Transformers'; 'Wild Hogs'

Every July the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri opens its doors to artists from around the country, displaying its Girardot National Juried Show -- one of the biggest, most stylistically diverse exhibitions hosted by the arts council. This month's Girardot show fits with that tradition, featuring a wealth of work with vastly different styles displayed side-by-side. ...

The Edward Bernard Gallery will be open from noon until 9 p.m. today, with a First Friday reception starting at 5 p.m. featuring abstract watercolorist Caroline Thompson. Thompson currently resides in Boulder, Colo., where she frequently exhibits her work, but is a native of Kennett, Mo. Thompson will be on hand to meet and greet gallerygoers...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Franklin, who's been successful as their setup man, signed a two-year contract extension Thursday that includes a team option for 2010. The 34-year-old right-hander was 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in 37 appearances entering Thursday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He got the decision in a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Arizona on Wednesday night...