Stories from Thursday, January 8, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri legislators convened their 2009 session Wednesday with an emphasis on job creation in a struggling economy that has created financial concerns not only for individuals but for the state itself. The newly elected legislative leaders also laid out goals of making higher education and health care more affordable to Missourians while encouraging new energy sources, including the potential construction of a nuclear power plant...

WASHINGTON -- Roland Burris said Wednesday he should be able to join the Senate "very shortly," after talking to newly supportive Democratic leaders and working on lingering legal obstacles. Talking to reporters on the second day of a Washington power struggle, the 71-year-old Burris declared himself happy and said he was pleased with his meeting with Sens. Harry Reid and Dick Durbin...

A section of Highway 91 in Scott County will be closed this week and again next week for bridge repairs, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. The section of Highway 91 from U.S. 61 to Route CC will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Friday and Tuesday...

WASHINGTON -- Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," president-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs -- even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy...

A Cape Girardeau resident charged with blinding another man by throwing a chemical in his face was convicted Tuesday during a bench trial before Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William L. Syler, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Turns out the NHL has a bigger bite than Ottawa's Jarkko Ruutu. And that was fine with Andrew Peters on Wednesday evening after the Buffalo Sabres enforcer learned the league had suspended Ruutu two games without pay for biting Peters' gloved hand in a game Tuesday night...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation has a new customer survey is on its website, www.modot.org. "Rate Our Work Zones" allows people to provide MoDOT with feedback on specific work zones experienced while traveling. The survey is also at www.modot.org/workzones/Comments.htm...

CLEVELAND -- Eric Mangini is the new coach of the Cleveland Browns, a week after being fired by the New York Jets. A person with knowledge of the negotiations said that Mangini will be introduced today at a news conference. The 37-year-old Mangini agreed to a four-year deal with the club Wednesday, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because contract details had yet to be finalized...

MIAMI -- Urban Meyer was about 8 years old when he knew he wanted to be a football coach. Bob Stoops is the son of a coach, so you might say coaching is in his genes. Now, at relatively young ages, Meyer and Stoops have risen to the top of their profession. Their salaries top $3 million per year. Their teams have won more than 80 percent of their games...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Patton, Mo., teen accused of killing his legal guardian made his first court appearance Wednesday, while the fate of his 9-year-old foster brother remains uncertain, authorities said. John W. Wilfong, 17, faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges in the slaying of Pamela L. Ackman, a cousin who had been his legal guardian since 2003...

Woodrow Pearson COMMERCE, Mo. -- Woodrow Pearson, 90, of Commerce died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born July 6, 1918, in Melvin, Ala., son of Coleman and Verma Pearson. He married Lillie Mae Allen, who died May 25, 2001...

Cape Girardeau's "social scene" often looks the same each weekend. Young adults shuffling from one downtown bar to another — pubs, clubs, billiards bars or bistros, looking for a good time. But for a different flavor on a Friday night — try Broadway: That's where you'll find the Phat Cat...

Live music Doug E. Rees With a possible appearance by Nick Hines. Where: Stooges, Jackson When: 7 to 11 p.m. today Fill Progressive jazz fusion for background or head-bobbing. Where: Buckner Brewing Co. When: 9 p.m. today...

To the editor: Bernard Madoff has been credited by the media with pulling off the greatest Ponzi scheme in the history of the U.S. It is true that Madoff, by his own admission, ripped off $50 billion from some 8,000 charities and rich people. Sorry, Mr. Madoff, you deserve only the third-place award in the infamous history of Ponzi schemes...

Charles Gerecke Charles Louis Gerecke, 80, of Jackson died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 30, 1928, in Jackson, son of Louis and Frieda Ahrens Gerecke. He and Jean Marie Dylewski were married in April 1959. He later married Bobbi Thompson on July 5, 1990...

Florence Rossiter Florence Rossiter, 99, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Janet Cook On Jan. 3, 2009, around 2:18 a.m., with her daughter Paula's arms around her, God came to take Janet home. Only on New Year's Day, our mother, who was often called a "Liz Taylor look-alike," discovered she had cancerous tumors. Not knowing her final hours were approaching, her entire family had gathered around her, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, brothers and close friends, to give her love and support...

Central TIgers Coach: Danya Powell Swimmers: Rachel Bagot, Jessie Baker, Whitney Bramlett, Hillary Caldwell, Kaley Childers, Alyssa Coots, Kathlynn Dodd, Amy Ennis, Kelly Ennis, Mary C. Ford, Cat Goeke, Kimmy Higgins, Abby Kiefner, Jerica Moore, Shannon Nuyt, Sydney Ozbun, Lilli Robinson, Lizzie Schmidt, Hannah Seesing, Sarah Uptmor, Tara Volkerding, Chelsea Willett, Jennifer Willett, Annie Wolpers, Logan Young, Ali Yuen...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Tanned, toned and casually dressed fresh off his Mexican getaway, Jason Giambi sat down with Oakland general manager Billy Beane to his right and manager Bob Geren to his left and didn't waste a second before speaking. "I'm excited you guys are all here. I'm excited about this," Giambi said Wednesday before he'd even given the Athletics time to formally introduce him for his second stint with the club...

Larry Paul MOUNDS, Ill. -- Larry "Spike" Paul, 93, of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Mounds, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at Bishop Drumm Retirement Home in Johnston, Iowa. Survivors include a son, Larry Paul; a daughter, Marilyn; two grandsons; and four great-grandchildren...

A new hearing date has been set in the case of a man charged with killing his neighbor's dog. Ralph Ziegler, of 1315 Ashland Hills Drive, faces one charge of animal abuse after allegedly leaving out a plate of poisoned ribs for Lola, his neighbors' German shepherd mix, in September...

Discount clothing chain Goody's Family Clothing will begin liquidating its stores Friday as the retailer becomes one of the year's first victims of the worsening economy. The move, which comes less than four months after the privately held retailer emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, affects the Knoxville, Tenn.-based chain's 287 stores scattered throughout 20 Midwestern and Southern states, said Cathy Hershcopf, a partner at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP...

Jan. 8, 2009, Dear McMani, We welcomed your Christmas letter and photograph like news from castaways, though we know you'll always be true Southern Californians. John and Karin haven't changed in the 14 years since we last saw you. Inga and Christien, of course, have transformed from little people into people old enough to drive. ...

Catherine Hanaway's office released the following items. Name: Vincent L. Twiggs II Age: 27 Residence: Cape Girardeau Pleaded: Guilty Charge: One felony count of possession of five grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute Sentence: Maximum 40 years and $2,000,000 fine, set for March 27...

Beussink Son to Alan Joseph and Dana Elaine Beussink of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:39 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. Name, Cohen Benjamin. Weight, 7 pounds, 1 ounce. First child. Mrs. Beussink is the former Dana Nenninger, daughter of Leo and Norma Nenninger of Marble Hill, Mo. She is a teacher with the Perry County School District. Beussink is the son of Ralph and Sandy Beussink of Leopold, Mo. He is an attorney with Richard Whiffen, PC...

The brilliant "Doubt" is a surprisingly simple film. It's shot in a handful of sets that make up a single Catholic school location. The camera is steady and moves only when necessary, and the cold winter look is a perfect emotional cloak for the ominous story...

Notre Dame senior Brittany Menz failed to place in the top 16 in both of her two individual events at the state swimming meet last winter. That was a first for Menz, who had placed in the top 16 in at least one of her two events the previous two years, and placed 10th in one state race as a freshman...

Robert Blythe PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Robert W. "Bob" Blythe, 85, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. He was born Aug. 13, 1923, in Indianapolis, son of James Russell Jarret and Irene C. Blythe. He and Flora Palisch were married May 9, 1943...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges in connection with the 2006 stabbing death of a former girlfriend and the mother of his child. James Vernon Cullum, 26, appeared Monday before Judge Fred Copeland in connection with events of June 5, 2006, in Sikeston. Cullum was charged with stabbing Tishania T. Walker, 20...

LOS ANGELES -- Add writing to Batman's bag of tricks. "The Dark Knight" earned a nomination Wednesday for best adapted screenplay from the Writers Guild of America. Director Christopher Nolan and brother Jonathan Nolan co-wrote the screenplay for the Batman blockbuster, which is based on the DC Comics franchise...

The students at Jackson Junior High hang their art in the cafeteria to add a little color to the harsh, white cinderblock walls. The large, bland room received a permanent piece of color and social commentary with the unveiling of a 36-foot mural by local artist Craig Thomas...

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Joe the Plumber is putting down his wrenches and picking up a reporter's notebook. The Ohio man who became a household name during the presidential campaign says he is heading to Israel as a war correspondent for the conservative website pjtv.com...

SANDWICH, Mass. -- A young harbor seal somehow broke into a fish hatchery on Cape Cod on Tuesday and turned the place into an all-you-can-eat buffet. The female seal briefly had the run of the Sandwich Hatchery, downing untold numbers of trout before Division of Fisheries and Wildlife employees found it, the Cape Cod Times reported...

Two new opportunities have popped up out there for those who want to break into the arts. One has to do directly with young artists, the other with anyone who wants to be onstage. Southeast Missouri State University has started an Art Academy for High School Art Students to get more experience and more instruction. All the instructors are faculty at Southeast...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission will review the county's $12 million budget, which includes a 3.5 percent pay increase for county employees, at 10 a.m. today during a regular meeting. "I said when we began the budget process that our first priority is to give all of our employee raises," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones...

Bill Coomer William Earle "Bill" Coomer Jr., 69, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born July 23, 1939, in Paris, Ill., son of William Earle and Verna Mae Allendorf Coomer. He and Judith Marea Daume were married Nov. 23, 1959, in Greenville, S.C...

Ranee Miller MOUNDS, Ill. -- Ranee L. Miller, 32, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Mounds, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, in Memphis. She was born Sept. 21, 1976, in Memphis, daughter of Joe and Sherry Miller. Miller was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mound City. She was a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau. She was a restaurant manager in Memphis...

Geraldine Stearns Geraldine "Jerry" Stearns, 88, of Jackson died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She was born Feb. 12, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Luther and Francis Kistner Bridges. She and Charles "Bud" Stearns were married Jan. 25, 1935. He died July 31, 1990...

For two years a task force has been meeting to discuss issues of concern to two areas in Cape Girardeau: the Red Star neighborhood north of downtown and the city's south side area. While the specifics of those issues vary, the two areas share many of the same general problems. And they could benefit from many of the same opportunities for improvement...

Time to celebrate I HAVE high hopes for the coming year. I have the gift of life, the life that the Lord gave me. I have a lot to celebrate. I've had my spouse for several decades. So I have a lot to celebrate because of the hope the new year brings and because of the gift of life that the Lord has given me and someone to share it with and a family that I love...

An 84-year-old farmer from Commerce, Mo., died Wednesday when he fell into a grain silo filled with soybeans, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said. Herschel Gilpin and his son were unloading the bin on leased farmland along Scott County Road 277 near Oran, Mo., when the accident occurred, Walter said. The son was moving a tractor and Gilpin was on top of the silo, Walter said. The son did not see the accident...

Jackson Firefighters responded to the following call Tuesday: n A report of smoke on South Farmington Road.

A man was taken to a hospital by ambulance to be evaluated for smoke inhalation after a Wednesday afternoon fire in an apartment building on Independence Street, said battalion chief Fred Vincel with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. The fire department received a call of a fire in a 1 1/2-story apartment building at 224 Independence St. at 3:32 p.m., Vincel said. The fire was caused by cooking materials left on a stove in a basement apartment...

Mark Sides CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Mark Sides, 14, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

Bollinger County annually collects hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales taxes that appear to exceed legal limits, according to a Missouri state auditor's office report issued in December. In the report, a review of county finances that repeats and expands on findings from a 2004 audit, the auditor's office noted that county voters have approved three sales taxes totaling 1.125 percent. ...

NEW YORK -- Babies do better after a scheduled Caesarean section if they're born no sooner than seven days before their due date, a new large study of U.S. births shows. Those delivered earlier had more complications, including breathing problems, even though they were full-term, the researchers reported in today's New England Journal of Medicine. Even just a few days made a difference, they said...

To the editor: The following article was in Fence Post magazine. I thought it was appropriate in today's world. Our teachers are undervalued and underappreciated by today's society. I am 78 years old and cannot believe the attitude toward education today. When I was young, attending school was a privilege and an honor...

25 years ago: Jan. 8, 1984 Two men who were drinking in a bar at the Holiday Inn shortly after an armed robbery occurred at the Drury Inn across the street were arrested early yesterday; the two are accused of taking more than $200 while threatening two Drury Inn employees with a knife...

Gladys Riney PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Gladys Riney, 88, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. She was born Dec. 25, 1920, in Perry County, daughter of Moritz and Ellen Doll Brown. She and Alois Riney were married May 7, 1938. He died Sept. 14, 2007...

COMMERCE, Mo. -- Herschel Gilpin, 84, of Commerce died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in a farming accident near Oran, Mo. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Marie Buff PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Marie E. Buff, 90, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 6, 1918, in Perry County, daughter of John and Anna Gebhardt Baudendistel. She and Lester J. Buff were married April 11, 1939, in Perry County...

Cape Girardeau wants to see it. Wehrenberg Theatres wants to show it. But "Killshot," the John Madden-directed action film that brought Hollywood to Southeast Missouri, won't be showing locally when it opens later this month. The Weinstein Co., producer of the film, has set a Jan. 23 release date for the movie featuring Thomas Jane, Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke. Exactly where it will be shown isn't being released. But a Weinstein Co. spokesman said Cape Girardeau is definitely out for now...

SAN ANTONIO -- Texas authorities are seeking permanent custody of a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly married to jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, a step toward severing her parents' rights altogether. The girl had been placed temporarily in foster care in August after her mother refused in court to guarantee her safety. She is the only one of 439 children taken from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado to return to foster care...

Baseball n Southeast camps: The Southeast Missouri State baseball program will host camps at Houck Field House. A pitcher and catcher camp is Saturday, and a hitting camp is Sunday. Both sessions are designed for age 13 through seniors in high school. Campers must bring their own workout gear. Cost: $95 per camp. Info: 986-6002...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The legal dispute over Gov. Matt Blunt's e-mails and a fired staff attorney has cost taxpayers about $1.5 million. Records show the state has spent more than $900,000 to defend Blunt and several past and present administration officials against a lawsuit by former legal counsel Scott Eckersley...

On Saturday, the high-definition broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera will be Giacomo Puccini's "La Rondine." The performance, which will take place at the Town Plaza Cinema, begins at noon. The encore presentation will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 21...

While most coffee houses/cafes surround customers with big furniture and natural wood walls and floors that can seem stodgy, Cozmo's Cafe lightens the mood with bright lights, lots of color and modern furniture. The cafe has plasma TVs and tubs of gelato and sorbetto to make your mouth water...

Norman Barg OLMSTED, Ill. -- Norman Barg, 62, of Olmsted died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at his home. He was born Dec. 12, 1946, in Chicago, son of Norman Elmer and Marion Alice Rex Barg. Barg was a musical instrument repairman. Survivors include a sister, Phyllis Otto of Hebron, Ind...

David Dormeyer David Farquhar Dormeyer, 67, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Bob Stoops posed next to the crystal football and played along with a wave of photographers. They asked him to look to the left, he did. They asked him to smile, he did. Any shot they wanted Wednesday inside a hotel ballroom, he gave them...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Levi Elledge, 30, 330 Grandview Drive, Jackson, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Arrest n Melissa M. Robertson, 26, 111 Themis St., No. 11, was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant for contempt of court for peace disturbance...

It's been a long run for Missouri's senior U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who was first elected to office over 20 years ago.But now the senior senator says he's ready to hang it up. Bond announced today before legislators in Jefferson City that he doesn't want to be Missouri's oldest senator in history.Click here for more on this story. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sen. Kit Bond announced Thursday that he won't seek re-election in 2010, saying he does not "aspire to become Missouri's oldest senator." Bond, 69, made the announcement Thursday morning at the state Capitol, shortly after Missouri lawmakers convened...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will be the top Republican on a Congressional subcommittee that directs spending for the U.S. Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the White House. Emerson, who has been in Congress since 1996, will be the ranking minority member on the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Appropriations. ...

Beautiful--both the flag and the rising sun! The glory of the sunrise faded quickly, but the flag still waves proudly.

Fire destroys house off Highway 72 Firefighters battled a house fire Wednesday evening that destroyed a residence in Cape Girardeau County just off Highway 72. The structure was a complete loss, said Lt. David James, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau County SHeriff's Department. Officials believed the fire began from the woodstove, James said. Two pets perished in the blaze, but none of the residents of the house were injured, James said...

KENNETT, Mo. — Bootheel Drug Task force officers and the Kennett Police Department recently raided a home in the Baker Addition of Kennett, uncovering a working methamphetamine manufacturing lab. The discovery came after officers made a traffic stop involving Christopher Len Harrigan, 29, who was leaving the home...

The Macy's at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau is not among the 11 stores in nine states the Cincinnati, Ohio-based department store chain is planning to close this year, said Jim Sluzewski, a company spokesman. Among the stores slated to close is the Crestwood Mall location in St. ...

Heather Dietiker drained five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points Wednesday to lead top-seeded Meadow Heights into the championship game of the Delta girls basketball tournament. The Panthers posted a 52-31 win over fourth-seeded St. Vincent...

For those who suffer from winter's weather in any way, we pray to you, O God. Amen.

A former Cape Girardeau car salesman faces felony theft charges for allegedly stealing from dealership customers and lying to them about promotions, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Aaron Alfred Evans, 48, of Bertrand, Mo., is charged with three counts of stealing by deceit and is suspected of "using various lies to trick three victims into giving him money," Swingle said...

The two drivers injured in a car crash Monday in uptown Jackson remain hospitalized. William C. Hoover, a former Southeast Missouri State University professor, suffered two broken arms in the accident on Main Street near the Ohio Street intersection, according to his friend Linda Sanders...

A tractor-trailer overturned this morning on Highway 74 at the interchange with Interstate 55. As of 11:30 a.m., crews were still working to get the tractor-trailer upright.Initial reports say no one was injured in the accident...