Stories from Wednesday, November 28, 2007

MoDOT has reduced a section of Route 34 near Jackson to one lane today with a width restriction of 12 feet. The lane closure is taking place from the city limits of Jackson west to Cane Creek, ending just east of the Route 72/34 junction, while MoDOT crews take samples of the pavement...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence Wednesday, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol...

A section of Route V, at Bollinger County Road 625, will be closed from 8 to 10 a.m. Thursday for Missouri Department of Transportation work crews. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. the road will be reduced to one lane while workers install a drainage pipe...

Jackson residents will get a sneak peek at routes proposed for Old Orchard Road on Thursday. The city will host an informal public hearing with engineers and Missouri Department of Transportation officials, along with maps of three potential ways to connect the new East Main Street to Bainbridge Road...

Between 7 a.m. today and Sunday night, a new Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses will rise at 1150 S. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau. The building will host a relatively small congregation of 100, according to elder Earl Norman. It will replace a hall built in Scott City more than decade ago. That building was sold to the Scott City government as a new home for city hall...

The Scott City government hopes to move into its new home by Jan. 1, but that depends on how quickly they can get the work done with in-kind labor. The city council authorized city administrator Ron Eskew to sign a contract to purchase a former Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall at 215 Chester St. for $159,000 to become a new city hall...

Cape Girardeau's next superintendent will face coming to a district where staff morale is low, teachers don't always feel valued and parents feel their comments don't matter, community leaders said at a forum Tuesday. Two meetings were held by Jerry Waddle, a consultant for the Missouri School Boards' Association, to determine characteristics staff and parents are looking for in a new superintendent. The school board hired MSBA to help with the search, which could be completed in January...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Ameren Corp. announced Wednesday that it had reached an agreement that will require the utility to pay $180 million in cash and property to compensate for damages resulting from the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse...

NEW YORK -- Texas oilman Oscar Wyatt Jr. was sentenced to a year in prison Tuesday for his role in corrupting the U.N. oil-for-food program, winning leniency from a judge who cited his military service during World War II and his many good deeds during his lifetime...

VILLIERS-LE-BEL, France -- Youths rampaged for a third night in the tough suburbs north of Paris and violence spread to a southern city late Tuesday as police struggled to contain rioters who have burned cars and buildings and -- in an ominous turn -- shot at officers...

LOS ANGELES -- The whimsical Bob Dylan narrative "I'm Not There," featuring Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere and four others playing incarnations of the enigmatic singer, led nominees Tuesday for the Spirit Awards honoring independent film. "I'm Not There" was nominated for best feature; supporting actress for Blanchett; supporting actor for child performer Marcus Carl Franklin; and best director for Todd Haynes...

To the editor:What do Mayor Jay Knudtson and others see when they drive down Broadway looking for buildings they want to raze? I'll tell you what I see. Let me use the Esquire Theater as an example. I see the neon blazing and the woman in the box office and the man who took our tickets as we went in and oversaw us as we left to make sure we behaved ourselves. They were the same for years...

Southbound I-55 down to one lane today The southbound side of Interstate 55 will be reduced to one lane in the East Main Street/LaSalle Avenue interchange construction area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The lane reduction will take place between mile markers 101 and 103. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution in the work zone. For more information, call resident engineer Darius Dowdy at 243-0899 or 888-275-6636...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Leonard A. Kuehnert, 79, of Altenburg died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, at his residence. Kuehnert was born March 1, 1928, in Altenburg, son of Adolph G. and Gertrude (Bellman) Kuehnert. He and Jeannette A. Thompson were married on Oct. 23, 1976...

In its 33rd year, Toybox, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian, will deliver toys to children this holiday season. Tax-deductible monetary donations can be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, 63702-0004. ...

Firefighters responded to a structure fire at a Cape Girar-deau County residence around dinnertime Tuesday. The blaze began around 5 p.m. in the carport area of the ranch style home at 4295 State Highway 177 north of Cape Girardeau. It took firefighters from the East County Fire Protection District more than an hour to squelch the flames shooting through the roof...

Summons; Arrest

n At 5:24 p.m., a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 55. n At 6:12 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3200 block of Themis Street. n At 7:21 p.m., emergency medical service in the 200 block of Siemers Drive. n At 8 p.m., emergency medical service in the 700 block of North Sprigg Street...

WASHINGTON -- A widely used tool for predicting a woman's risk of breast cancer is getting an update to better reflect black women's risk. At issue is the National Cancer Institute's online risk calculator. Answer a few questions -- such as current age, age when your first child was born, family history of breast cancer and learn your odds of getting breast cancer in the next five years...

Taxing the rich; No lights on ramps; End some loopholes; Too much sales tax; Habitat credibility; An honest person; Artful lighting; All veterans recognized; Korean War's costs; Reason for Christmas

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- States from Connecticut to California have looked this year to mimic the success of large cities like New York in banning artery-clogging trans fats from restaurants. But in the 14 states that have so far proposed a ban or restriction, not a single bill has been passed as the year draws to a close. This month, Ohio became the 15th state to make such a proposal...

ACCOMAC, Va. -- A waste truck leaked poultry fat along 20 miles of roadway Tuesday, causing at least four crashes and making a stinky mess. Virginia State Police said a truck hauling a waste product of poultry grease left a valve open, and the fat leaked onto U.S. Route 13 from the plant to the Maryland state line...

To the editor:I want to thank the Southeast Missourian for the stories about thankful people in your Thanksgiving Day edition. I often complain about how depressing the news can be, wondering if there ever is anything good going on the world. The stories of these fine people let me know that there is definitely something good in these unpredictable times, if only I will concentrate on the positive...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A lawsuit seeking to stop Missouri's student loan agency from supplying money to Gov. Matt Blunt's college construction plan has been dropped. But it may come back with more allegations and more clients. Rather than giving up, attorneys challenging Blunt's building initiative are regrouping...

Student art guild at Southeast plans art sale Southeast Missouri State University's student art guild will have an art show and sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Thursday in the University Center lobby. The show includes two- and three-dimensional art, both decorative and utilitarian...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- More than 200 years ago, rats jumped ship for Rat Island. The muscular Norway rat climbed ashore on the rugged, uninhabited island in far southwestern Alaska in 1780 after a rodent-infested Japanese ship ran aground. It was the first time rats had made it to Alaska...

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- A 63-year-old grandmother with a handgun stopped two burglars at her backdoor in Carthage. The Jasper County Sheriff's Department said a woman and a 16-year-old boy were arrested after the foiled break-in and charged with first-degree burglary...

Filing to open soon for school board positions Filing for school board positions will run Dec. 18 to Jan 22, with an election April 8. In Jackson, three positions are open on the seven-person board. Terms are three years. Board vice president Mack Illers, Terri Tomlin and Dr. ...

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Sealing their pledge with an awkward handshake, Israeli and Palestinian leaders resolved Tuesday to immediately restart moribund peace talks. President Bush said he will devote himself to ending the six-decade conflict in the 14 months he has left in office...

BANGOR, Maine -- The owner of Spanky's Pizza fears being driven out of business by the stench of cigar smoke, which customers say is mixing with the familiar smells of pepperoni, cheese and garlic. Philip Nadeau said last month's opening of a smokers' lounge at the Cigar & Smoke Shoppe next door coincided with the arrival of the new scent. A thin wall separates the two businesses...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- William A. "Bill" Brown, 66, of Perryville died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, at his home. He was born Oct. 6, 1941, in Modoc, Ill., son of Clarence Monroe and Emma Edna Sadler Brown. He and Ruby M. Glaub were married Feb. 21, 1963, in Perryville...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Paige and Jason Archie don't have to reinvent the wheel in their quest to help their son Daegan see. Dawn Barlett and her daughter Rylea already did that. Like Daegan, 6-year-old Rylea was born with optic-nerve hypoplasia. Because her optic nerves did not develop normally during pregnancy, she was blind and could not detect light. ...

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Ta Mahathath, 86, of Kansas City died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City. He was born Jan. 9, 1921, in Thakhek, Laos, son of Pheng and Sing Mahathath. He married Mack Mounsavenq. Mahathath was a self-employed businessman...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Last month, a record number of Missourians relied on the federal government's nutrition program for low-income families, and officials with the program attribute the increase at least in part to higher milk prices. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, the state client list for the WIC program, which provides pregnant women, infants and children up to age 5 with checks for basic food purchases worth about $35 a month, increased by more than 2,500 people, said Glenn Studebaker, WIC communications and planning coordinator in Jefferson City.. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kenneth J. Blandford, 59, of Perryville died Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 21, 1948, in Perryville, son of Roy J. and Rita M. Meyer Blandford. Blandford was a member of Mission for Christ Church...

Run/walk planned to benefit Toybox charity The Cape Road Runners will hold a one mile run/walk at 5 p.m. Sunday just before the rescheduled Christmas Parade of Lights. It will start at Capaha Park on Broadway and finish at Main Street. The event will benefit the Toybox charity sponsored by the Cape Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian to provide new toys for needy children. ...

CHICAGO -- When Metamora's Brennen VanMieghem kicked a game-winning field goal in the weekend's state high school football championships, photographers assigned to cover the action for his hometown paper weren't on the field. Relegated to the stands and press box, the Peoria Journal Star photographers -- along with those from four other Illinois newspapers -- were banned by the Illinois High School Association because of an ongoing fight with the state press association over rights to sell photographs from high school championships.. ...

A boil-water advisory went out to 180 Cape Girardeau households after an Ameren contractor broke a Bloomfield Road water main Tuesday afternoon. Tap water intended for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth should be boiled for at least three minutes until 6 p.m. Thursday...

A few weeks ago I took corn dog muffins to a youth group at church for the children to eat along with chili. It was good, but they thought I had lost my mind making muffins that tasted like corn dogs. It was successful with most people. So when I opened a cookbook today and saw spicy pepperoni biscuits, I just had to include it here today for you to try. The recipe says to serve with piping hot mugs of cheese soup. Yummy!...

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- William Cleary believes aerial firefighting could become child's play. Five years ago, his son drenched him with a water balloon -- and got him to thinking. "He was three stories up and I was walking, and he still managed to hit me square in the head," said Cleary, a Boeing engineer. "I thought, why can't we be this accurate with water on fires?"...

To the editor:I agree that the Democrats will have to take a stand on national security. However, I also believe in the use of torture. Our enemies do it, so why shouldn't we? Who cares about the cliche "Don't stoop to their level"? I do not agree with this war, but what must be done must be done. ...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff family escaped serious injury Monday morning by climbing onto the roof of their burning home. "At about midnight, one o'clock we were asleep," said Brian Todahl, who lived at 803 Kinzer St. with his wife, Brandy, and 10-year-old daughter, Kristen. "The dogs were barking and jumping on the door. They woke us up."...

City and state officials are working on traffic signals, tweaking lights to make them more efficient and more responsive to traffic demands, especially for holiday shoppers and travelers. There have been a number of complaints recently about poor timing of traffic lights. ...

Mason; Matrisotto; Martin; Blanton; Wheeler

COCKEYSVILLE, Md. -- Ella M. Human of Cockeysville died Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium, Md. She was born in 1924 and grew up in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Paul and Altha Uelsmann. She married Army officer Theodore H. "Ted" Human...

An experienced and athletic Louisiana Tech men's basketball team had its way with Southeast Missouri State last season. The Bulldogs routed the Redhawks 72-56 at the Show Me Center as part of the ESPN BracketBuster series. Most of the key players from that Louisiana Tech squad have moved on, but Southeast coach Scott Edgar said that doesn't automatically mean the Redhawks will avenge the loss tonight...

Central and Jackson set up a Friday meeting in the semifinals of the Farmington Invitational with wins Tuesday in the opening-round games. The teams will meet 7:30 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, with the tourney's third-place and final games set for Saturday...

Jackson wrestler Justin Miller was feeling physically strong and mentally confident that he could qualify for the state tournament when he began the Indians' Christmas break two-a-day practice schedule last winter. Miller, then a junior, had posted a 19-4 individual record in the first part of the season, wrestling in the 140-pound weight class...

St. Paul Lutheran Church of Jackson observes the 20th anniversary of the dedication of its present church building; guest speaker for the occasion is the Rev. James Knuth, vicar of St. Paul during 1965-1966; he is Lutheran campus pastor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison...

NEW YORK -- Sales pitches bombard us every day with advice on what to eat, what to wear and what to do with our money. While savvy consumers are quick to duck many of these distractions, investors looking for advice on how to save for retirement should think twice before tossing aside the colorful brochures of their 401(k) managers...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A lawsuit seeking to stop Missouri's student loan agency from supplying money to Gov. Matt Blunt's college construction plan has been dropped. A Cole County judge had denied a request in September to temporarily bar the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority from paying the first installment of Blunt's $350 million plan. Although the initial request failed, the lawsuit had continued...

KITCHEN If you've ever wished your online recipe collection wasn't chained to your computer, there's a new service that might help. The recently launched TasteBook Web site turns digital recipe boxes into ring-bound custom cookbooks. Still in its infancy, the site has limited application at the moment. ...

The only high school game of the week last week did not turn out in favor of the team from Southeast Missouri, as Jackson lost 25-14 to Waynesville in the Class 5 state semifinal contest in Waynesville. The Indians had opportunities, including one set up in the fourth quarter when junior defensive end Kevin Pridemore recovered Lyle Cox's fumble at the Waynesville 30-yard line after Matt Lang had stripped the ball from the Tigers quarterback...

When people, especially Texans, think of the battle of the Alamo they think of Davy Crockett and his coonskin cap, Jim Bowie and his famous knife and the iconic phrase, "Remember the Alamo." But, strange as it may sound, when I think of the Alamo I think of key lime pie. It's really not quite as odd as it may seem, because the man who coined that famous phrase also invented a crucial ingredient in the pie -- sweetened condensed milk...

MIAMI -- Despite alarming predictions, the U.S. came through a second straight hurricane season virtually unscathed, raising fears among emergency planners that they will be fighting public apathy and overconfidence when they warn people to prepare for next year...

NEW YORK (AP) -- As consumers hold tight to their wallets, online retailers will work harder this year for their share of the holiday gift list. With a holiday season that is expected to be the weakest since 2002, and numbers of new online customers leveling off, more Web retailers have been pushing special offers and promotions to draw consumers...