Stories from Sunday, May 11, 2008

The main reason my trip north in March across the Peruvian border and into the southern Ecuadorian Andes was hotly anticipated was because of the heat itself. Piura was Missouri in July without air conditioning. If I'd ever sweat so much, I'd never had to look so good doing it...

They give birth. They give food. They nurture and teach. And they get a day. Mother's Day. One day above the rest that children of all ages show appreciation for all that mom does. At least one kindergarten class at Alma Schrader Elementary School made mom a flower, planted some zinneas and decorated fans. They and a few third graders offered their thoughts on what makes a mom special, what they liked to do with their mom and what Mother's Day gift they would give her...

Pamela Roxanne Goodman and Shannon Timothy Smith were married Feb. 22, 2008, at New Life Gospel Center in Scott City. Jack Owens performed the ceremony. Maid of honor was Raquel Goodman, daughter of the bride. The groom chose his son, David Smith, as best man...

Mark and Cynde Sharrock of Oak Ridge announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda June King, to Neil Anthony Winschel. He is the son of Elaine Winschel of Perryville, Mo., and the late Martin Winschel. King is a 2006 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. She is employed by United Way of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau...

Mr. and Mrs. H. William Yeager of Cape Girardeau observed their 60th wedding anniversary May 8, 2008. Yeager and Regina Whitfield were married May 8, 1948, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee, Mo., by the Rev. Walter Craig. They have resided in Jackson and Cape Girardeau all their married life...

BENTON, Mo. -- David and Marcella Mack of Benton announce the engagement of their daughter, Suzanna Christine Mack, to Matthew Wade Clover, both of High Ridge, Mo. He is the son of Lester and Joan Clover of Scott City. Mack is a 2001 graduate of Kelly High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in 2005. She is a human resources specialist with Missouri Department of Transportation in Chesterfield, Mo...

Janice Marie Joggerst and Timothy Ryan Ketchum announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Brenda Joggerst of Daisy, and the late Vernon Joggerst. Ketchum is the son of David and Janice Ketchum of Charleston, Mo. Joggerst expects to receive a degree in business from Southeast Missouri State University in 2009. She is employed at Cracker Barrel...

Linn and Avon Crocker of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Lee Crocker, to Christopher Thomas Jaster. He is the son of Steven and Mary Ann Jaster of Jackson. Crocker is a 2003 graduate of Central High School. She is employed at National Asset Recovery Services Cafe...

Laura Estelle Schwendemann and Robert Joseph Kavaliauskas were married Nov. 17, 2007, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston, Mo. The Rev. Scott Sunnenberg performed the ceremony. Lector was Vannesa Schwendemann of Jackson, sister-in-law of the bride. Servers were Gavin O'Brien and Mary Klueppel of Sikeston...

Todd and Debbie Doemel of Jacksonville, Fla., and Robert Ladreiter of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Ann Ladreiter, to Andrew Christian Oldenburg. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Oldenburg of Jacksonville. Ladreiter received a degree in business from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2002. She is a development accountant with Regency Centers in Jacksonville...

Lena Renee Simminger and Bradley James Clark were married Dec. 1, 2007, at First Baptist Church in Jackson. Ron Shrum and Carter Frey performed the ceremony. Jordan Cox of Jackson was pianist and soloist. The bride is the daughter of Doug and Tammy Simminger of Gordonville. The groom is the son of Greg and Vonda Clark of Jackson...

Sharon Denise Wright and Travis Richard McClain were married Oct. 27, 2007, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, Mo. The Rev. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Organist was Diane Essner of Cape Girardeau, and soloist was Ellen Seyer of Kelso...

Judith Louise Hopkins, 66, of Bellevue, Wash., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at her home, after a battle with cancer. She was born Aug. 1, 1941, in Bonne Terre, Mo., daughter of William L. and Leatha Drury Berry. She and Joseph V. Hopkins were married Sept. 5, 1964, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Norman H. Steffens, 85, of Perryville died Friday, May 9, 2008, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. He was born April 27, 1923, at Farrar, Mo., son of Ernst and Rosa Verseman Steffens. He and Irma F. Meier Steffens were married Jan. 25, 1948. She died Aug. 12, 2000...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Melvin Hennemann, 99, of Perryville died Friday, May 9, 2008, at Perry Oaks Manor in Perryville. He was born Feb. 14, 1909, in Perry County, Mo., son of Theodore and Mary Balsman Hennemann. He and Emma Boxdorfer were married June 27, 1931, in Chester, Ill. She preceded him in death...

Cecil W. James Sr., 81, of Jackson died Friday, May 9, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born June 16, 1926, in Lilbourn, Mo., son of Oscar and Mary Douglas James. He and Velma June Baugher were married June 27, 1943, in Sikeston, Mo. She died Jan. 29, 2005...

Route K just west of Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau to Highway 25 at Gordonville now has signage in two areas that identify it as a bike route. More than 25 members of Velo Girardeau Club and other bicyclists pedaled the new route Saturday. The bike route uses the shoulder of the road, about 5 1/2 feet wide, marked with a white line and rumble strip...

This Mother's Day will not easily be forgotten by Cape Girardeau resident Charisse Parrish. The 30-year-old single mother of two has gone through life-changing events lately -- a brain tumor that has doubled in size and a house fire that almost took her life...

Saturday's goat sale at Arena Park had two purposes. In addition to selling kids, bucks and does, SEMO Meat Goat Producers hosted workshops to help people get ready for a fall goat show. Eva Rainwater arrived with some full-blooded Boer goats, some Boers crossbred with Nubian milk goats and some Boers crossbred with Kiko meat goats...

The list of students graduating from Southeast Missouri State University was the longest ever. On Saturday, 1,082 students accepted degrees at the Show Me Center, the largest commencement class ever. A year ago, 720 students graduated; the largest recent class was in 2000, when 1,009 gradated...

Christian Friedrich failed to notch a victory Saturday. But Eastern Kentucky's junior left-hander lived up to his billing as one of college baseball's top professional pitching prospects. Friedrich held Southeast Missouri State to an infield single in eight dominant innings...

FARMINGTON -- Perryville's Kris Cottner did not feel 100 percent healthy Saturday, but he still was able to repeat as the Class 3 District 1 champion in the 400-meter dash. Cottner, who's been dealing with a moderate hamstring strain that he suffered three weeks ago, crossed the finish line in 51.16 seconds -- seven-tenths of a second ahead of Sikeston sophomore Ismail Johnson...

A stirring first-game rally set the Southeast Missouri State baseball team up for a much-needed sweep of Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader. But the Redhawks, continuing their inconsistent trend, failed to finish it off. Southeast, held to an infield single through eight innings by Eastern Kentucky pitcher Christian Friedrich, scored four runs in the ninth and one in the 10th to squeeze out a 5-4 victory...

HILLSBORO -- It was a strange day indeed at the Class 4 District 1 track meet Saturday, with a discus flying into the bleachers and a sunny day giving way to a storm that threatened to stop the meet. But bizarre events could not shake the Lindbergh girls' hold on the district title, as the Flyers repeated as champions with Jackson again second. This time, the Indians were much further back, being outpointed 143-104. Central was fourth with 72 points...

With a price tag of $45,000, a recent review of Southeast Missouri State athletics seems to have left out a couple of items important to Redhawks fans. No. 1, Upgrading the football program. No. 2, Upgrading the men's basketball program. "That wasn't part of our charge," said Bill Carr of Florida-based Carr Sports Associates, which produced the review at the university's request as part of a strategic planning process...

TOWN AND COUNTRY, Mo. -- Scott City senior Craig Arnzen was never so happy to see a folding chair. The folding chair was needed by the judges at the Class 2 sectional meet Saturday at Principia High School to raise the high jump bar to 6 feet, 10 inches...

Tennis, anyone? Of all the sports to keep popping up in the 148-page document reviewing the Southeast Missouri State athletic program, women's tennis had its fair share of mentions. With issues ranging from "greasy food" on road trips to the lack of restrooms at the home complex, tennis was the individual program addressed most often in the review, all under the section for Title IX compliance...

Garrett Stevens started slumping at the plate halfway through his junior season, going hitless for nearly one month and watching his average dip about 200 points. He felt nervous during every at-bat. He was unable to get comfortable. He wasn't too receptive to suggestions...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Juanita Burd, 81, of Dongola died Saturday, May 10, 2008, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. She was born March 15, 1927, in Cairo, Ill., daughter of Thomas and Ethel Barnwell McCain. She and Roland Burd were married Jan. 6, 1945. Burd was a member of Gospel Assembly Church in Anna, Ill., and had worked as a home health nurse...

PRETORIA, South Africa -- Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Saturday that he will return to his homeland despite threats to his life to take part in a runoff against President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai, addressing reporters in the capital of neighboring South Africa, said his supporters would feel "betrayed" if he did not face Zimbabwe's ruler of 28 years...

THERMAL, Calif. -- At Las Palmitas Elementary School, nestled between rundown homes and fields of grapes, peppers and dates in Southern California, 99 percent of students live in poverty and fewer than 20 percent speak English fluently. Las Palmitas and other schools in the Coachella Valley Unified School District are the type policymakers had in mind when Congress passed the federal No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 to shed light on the disparities facing poor and minority children...

Public review CAPE GIRARDEAU County Commission meetings should be webcast and available for public review all the time as Jay Purcell, 2nd District commissioner, has tried to initiate. Those good old boys running the county need serious public scrutiny and more accountability...

WASHINGTON -- The cost of mailing a letter goes up a penny to 42 cents Monday, the latest in what are expected to be annual price adjustments by the Postal Service. A new law regulating the post office makes it easier to raise rates as long as the agency doesn't exceed the rate of inflation. Rates are to be adjusted each May...

25 years ago: May 11, 1983 A federal judge late yesterday enjoined the Army Corps of Engineers from activating the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway in a measure to relieve flooding northward along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers; the injunction was immediately appealed by the corps to the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals; the ruling is considered a major victory by property owners within the floodway...

Every year, we dutifully and thankfully acknowledge our mothers. We buy gifts. We select greeting cards that say the nicest things. We become part of the crowd at our favorite restaurant. We make a special day in every way we can. Which is exactly what we ought to be doing today...

Cape Girardeau County's 2nd District commissioner, Jay Purcell, said Saturday he intends to turn over to the Missouri attorney general's office audio recordings he made of Cape Girardeau County Commission meetings. He said he will share with the state all recordings he has made of county business...

CRAWFORD, Texas -- Jenna Bush and Henry Hager said "I do" Saturday at President Bush's ranch in Crawford. Away from the glare of television cameras that have beamed other first-family weddings into American living rooms, Jenna's outdoor wedding at the ranch reflected her family's penchant for privacy and her preference for the casual over the grandiose...

Most sport utility vehicles emphasize utility. But Infiniti's FX SUV is all about sport, edgy style and technology. Why else would the newly revamped-for-2009 FX have a chest-high hood that's so long and dramatic? It's akin to something on a sports car. Why else would the FX upgrade to a 5-liter V-8 with nearly 400 horsepower? The previous 4.5-liter V-8 offered ample power at 320 horses...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- William "Tim" Campbell, 85, of Mounds died Saturday, May 10, 2008, at home. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin, Ill. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Crain Funeral Home, with the Rev. Larry Buckles officiating...

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Hezbollah gunmen left the streets of Beirut on Saturday, heeding an army call to pull the fighters out after the Shiite militants demonstrated their military might in a power struggle with the U.S.-backed government. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, in his first public statement since sectarian clashes erupted Wednesday, said Lebanon can no longer tolerate Hezbollah having weapons. He called on the army to restore law and order and remove gunmen from the streets...

Documents tracking the use of the computer on the desk of David Ludwig, Cape Girardeau County auditor, dating back to May 2007 show the computer was routinely used to access Web sites featuring Pamela Anderson, best known for her role in the television series "Baywatch" and who gained considerable notoriety for sex videos and photos that were readily available on the Internet...

YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar's military rulers held a referendum Saturday aimed at solidifying their hold on power while turning cyclone relief efforts into a propaganda campaign. In some cases, generals' names were placed onto boxes of foreign aid before being distributed...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- They were divided by red and blue badges, a waist-high railing and a ceiling-to-floor curtain. And when one side stood in applause, the other was apt to remain seated. Missouri Democrats were visibly split at their statewide convention Saturday between those supporting Barack Obama and those backing Hillary Clinton. ...

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among superdelegates Saturday when he added more endorsements from the group of Democrats who will decide the party's nomination for president. Obama added superdelegates from Utah, Ohio and Arizona, as well as two from the Virgin Islands who had previously backed Clinton. The additions enabled Obama to surpass Clinton's total for the first time in the campaign. He had picked up nine endorsements Friday...

Dear Dr. Dobson: Help! I'm a mother of two sons, and I feel as if I've been thrust into a strange new world. Are boys always so rough? Sometimes the noise level in our house is more than I can take! Is this normal? Dear Reader: I've got both good and bad news for you -- it is normal, so you'd better get used to it and learn to cope! One of my colleagues, Dr. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An armed man was fatally shot by a Kansas City police officer after raising his gun. Officers were responding to a call Friday and were told the man was intoxicated inside the home. The woman who called said she was a relative and he had threatened her with the gun...

GRAFTON, W.Va. -- On this 100th anniversary of Mother's Day, the woman credited with creating one of the world's most celebrated holidays probably wouldn't be pleased with all the flowers, candy or gifts. Anna Jarvis would want us to give mothers a white carnation -- she felt it signified the purity of a mother's love...

At least 10 people were killed after severe storms spawned tornadoes and high winds across sections of southwestern Missouri on Saturday, the State Emergency Management Agency said. Eight of the dead were killed when a twister struck near Seneca in Newton County...

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Hundreds of rebels from war-ravaged Darfur clashed with Sudanese security forces on the doorstep of the capital Saturday in a widening of the five-year-old conflict. It was the first foray into the seat of the Sudanese government by a rebel group once confined to the western region, which is scarred by the struggle between the ethnic African rebels and the Arab-dominated central government...

LOS ANGELES -- Backstage meddling has caught up "American Idol" favorite David Archuleta's dad, who's been banned from rehearsals, a person working for the TV talent contest said Friday. Jeff Archuleta was told this week by producers that he can no longer join his 17-year-old son David as he prepares for the show, said the person familiar with the matter. The person wasn't authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity...

Southeast's McDonald honored Southeast Missouri State senior softball player Megan McDonald has been named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII first team for her achievements on the field and in the classroom. McDonald, a Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate, carries a 3.62 grade-point average in speech pathology. She was earlier this week named first team all-Ohio Valley Conference for the third time in her career...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Three-week-old Kevin fussed in mother Melissa Lankey's arms until she started singing softly to him, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." The newborn began dozing within seconds. "That's kind of our little song. It usually calms him right down," Lankey said...

To the editor: I have been troubled by the events that have occurred at the Cape Girardeau County Commission over the last few months. Increasingly I have noticed inconsistencies in what is said and done from one commission meeting to another. I have pointed out these inconsistencies in meetings and have been told by other commissioners things like "You misunderstood" or "That's the way you remember it, but that's not the way it happened."...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Two subjects were in custody pending formal charges of second-degree robbery and stealing medications from 701 Broadway. Assaults...

Alipala Son to Fortunato P. and Catherine Alipala of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 10:24 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2008. Name, John Paul Montano. Weight, 8 pounds, 15 ounces. Mrs. Alipala is the former Catherine Montano, daughter of Buenaventura Montano and Rosario Montano of Cebu, Philippines. Mr. and Mrs. Alipala are occupational therapists. He is the son of Gervacio Alipala and Dionicia Alipala of Laguna, Philippines...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: n At 4:54 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1800 block of Recardo Drive. n At 4:46 p.m., illegal burn in the 1600 block of Good Hope Street. n At 4:58 p.m., a citizen assist in the 100 block of Linden Street...

Baseball n Capahas tryouts: The Plaza Tire Capahas baseball team will hold tryouts for the upcoming season May 18 at 1 p.m. at Capaha Field. n Boys tournament: The Chaffee boys 13-year olds tournament will take place Thursday to May 18 at the Chaffee Harmon field. It will be a double-elimination tournament. Cost: $175 per team. Info: Mike or Tina Johnson, 318-9063 or 318-6054...

Democratic Party presidential front-runner Barack Obama will visit Cape Girardeau on Tuesday to meet with voters about the economy, an Obama campaign aide said Saturday. The exact time, location and format of the event is still being finalized, the aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I don't have any more details, but he will definitely be speaking about the economy," the aide said...

BAGHDAD -- Shiite groups brokered a reported cease-fire Saturday with militants fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces in Baghdad's Sadr City as the country's army launched an offensive in Mosul against al-Qaida's main bastion in Iraq. Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said the cease-fire will go into effect today. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Some of Missouri's top Democrats are calling upon their colleagues to throw up a blockade in the state Senate against a Republican drive to enact a voter photo identification requirement. Majority party Republicans plan to make the photo ID measure one of their priorities in the final week of the 2008 legislative session, which ends Friday...

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller use this space to offer their views on everyday issues. HE SAID: Dear Callie, You need to relax this week, so don't worry about the column. I'll take care of it. This one's on me...

Within walking distance of Southeast Missouri State University, this two-story, all-brick home with unfinished attic and mostly finished basement has a level yard with established landscaping in a charming neighborhood on a tree-lined street. The front porch runs the length of the home and could be the perfect place to be lazy and enjoy time out of the sun...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- Two more women have come forward with sexual abuse accusations against the pastor of a small southwest Missouri church who already is facing charges that he molested a 16-year-old girl five years ago. One 21-year-old woman who lives on the West Coast said she reported sexual abuse by Randall "Danny" Russell, the pastor of ACT II Church on the edge of Neosho, in 2002 when she was 15...

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- Historic sites in Mark Twain's hometown are open and safe despite reports of some flooding. The Mississippi River was a few feet above flood stage, and some low-lying streets were flooded as of early May, according to The Hannibal Courier-Post, but downtown is protected by a flood levee...

It's time to get out of the city and head for the hills, especially if the hills are in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, a corner of the world that's been attracting visitors since Colonial times and native Americans before then. And it's to get to from the major metropolises of the Mid Atlantic region...

MILWAUKEE -- Eric Gagne no longer wants to be called the Brewers' closer. He's pitching his way out of that role, anyway. The former NL Cy Young Award winner gave up a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning to Ryan Ludwick, and St. Louis held on for a 5-3 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday that snapped a season-long three-game skid...

The Blue Sky Church meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. today in Capaha Park has been rescheduled for next week due to bad weather. The National Weather Service recorded steady winds at 26 to 30 mph and gusts up to 41 mph for Cape Girardeau. The organizers of the new multi-denominational outdoor services for the month of May said the wind would cause too many technical problems for the services to be successful...

MILWAUKEE -- Jason Isringhausen got his wish. After blowing his major league leading fifth save Friday night in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals' embattled reliever will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday. "He's still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," La Russa said. ...