Stories from Friday, April 24, 2009

Two players won't have any trouble finding their way around the Missouri Valley Conference men's golf tournament course -- or Cape Girardeau, for that matter. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale teammates Todd Obergoenner and Blake Driskell will be in familiar territory when they hit town for practice rounds at Dalhousie Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday in preparation for the MVC championships Monday and Tuesday...

Gov. Jay Nixon pressed for passage of autism-related insurance legislation today in Cape Girardeau. The legislation would require health insurance providers to cover treatments and therapies for Missourians with autism. He toured the Judevine Center for Autism with state Sen. Jason Crowell (R-Cape Girardeau), who earlier this year convinced Nixon to reinstate $2.4 million for construction of a new autism treatment facility planned for the campus of the Southeast Missouri State University...

ARBYRD, Mo. -- The sewer issue at 322 Frisco, Arbyrd, Mo., has been ongoing for nine years. In these nine years, the resident has said that sewer has come up through all faucets and water pipes into the home a total of 22 times.

Parents of children in the Kennett School District can breathe a little easier following a statement from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) saying the air quality around area campuses is not as harmful to the students as reported by USA Today last year...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide nearly $250,000 to the Missouri Department of Conservation to buy a Mississippi River island just downstream from Cape Girardeau. The grant, under the Recovery Land Acquisition program, will place the environmentally important Marquette Island in public hands and protect habitats for endangerd least tern, pallid sturgeon and Indiana bats...

Sabreliner Corporation is looking to expand its operation based at the Perryville Municipal Airport, bringing a handful of additional jobs to the area. Currently, Sabreliner has a long-term lease with the city of Perryville, Mo., for a 210,000-square-foot space for their operations where they conduct aircraft refurbishment and repairs on both commercial and military machines, said Ron Herman, senior vice-president of operations for Sabreliner...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- An early morning robbery that happened Wednesday may be linked to one in Tennessee. The Sikeston Department of Public Safety was alerted to an armed robbery around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sally Beauty Supply, 1213 S. Main St. According to DPS Captain Mark Crocker, the victim told officers she was approached by a man wearing a black fluffy coat. The man was carrying a handgun and forced her to open the door to the business and take him inside...

Jim Wente's voice betrayed layers of emotion as he recounted telling his wife Rosalie that he'd like to work for Southeast Missouri Hospital someday. It was 1969 and he was an auditor. By 1975, he was the hospital's chief financial officer. Now the hospital's outgoing chief executive officer, Wente brought the story full circle at Thursday's annual Southeast Missouri Hospital Association dinner meeting attended by more than 800 people at the Show Me Center. ...

Taxes and economic development will likely dominate the final weeks of this year's Missouri Legislature, House Speaker Ron Richard said Thursday. Speaking on a conference call with reporters outside the Capitol Building, the Joplin Republican said he would be pushing to send $1 billion to Missouri income tax filers by cutting tax rates. ...

Residents of small Southeast Missouri communities such as Commerce, Brazeau and Pocahontas want the rest of the region to know that bigger is not always better. These towns and others will have their charm, flora, food and history on display this weekend as they host the 19th annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive. The self-guided driving tour Saturday and Sunday features 27 stops at area communities as locals roll out the red carpet for visitors...

By: Paula Tetley The Jackson First General Baptist Youth are holding their annual Dinner Theater this Friday & Saturday evening, Aptil 24 & 25. The theme is "A Night at the Drive In". Show times are 5:00 and 7:30 each evening. Tickets are very limited for the Saturday 5:00 show, but tickets are still available at the door for all other shows. ...

By: F.O.E Aerie 4473 Food Drive Committee Bollinger County Eagles is presently conducting a FOOD DRIVE in support of our local community food banks. Drop-Off boxes may be found at the following locations in the Marble Hill area. Country Mart---Marble Hill City Hall---Twin City Pharmacy---Bollinger County Eagles...

By: Mike Ramsey The Cape Girardeau Fire Department added to its fleet of 1916 Robinson fire apparatus for improved capabilities. The new motor fire truck was purchased on February 26, 1925. The engine was bought from the General Manufacturing Company of St. Louis and cost $5,400. The new truck is of the metropolitan type, known as the Graham Triple Combination Engine, built on a Graham chassis with a Dodge Brothers motor...

By: Mike Ramsey Pictured are members of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. Barney Kraft (center of the picture standing) had been appointed Chief during the re-organization of the Department on May 5, 1909. First Assistant Chief was Charles Hahn and the Second Assistant Chief was Leon Albert...

By: Deanna Long AT&T WORKERS HOPE FOR QUICK NEW CONTRACT By Deanna Long A few weeks ago, I received an unexpected "stimulus" about the economy. It didn't feel good. In fact, it felt like a painful hit to the gut. During the course of the day I received four anxious phone calls from friends whose sons, daughters, nephews or husbands had just lost their jobs...

By: Pat Harp so pretty in the mossy shade bed.

By: Vicky Dannenmueller Having read my paper, I heard paper rattling to find my grandsons checking the sports page for Albert Pujols..(evidently not pleased with the score) and the baby checking the want-ad's for a truck. ORAN MISSOURI

A live science lesson is underway at Franklin Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. Principal Rhonda Dunham said a series of honey bee swarms has formed on trees near the school. "You cannot call an exterminator because honeybees are federally protected," she said. "So we called a beekeeper."...

The first rule of "Fight Club," if you recall, was that you don't talk about "Fight Club." The first rule of "Fighting," it seems, is that you talk only to fill the gaps between all the fighting. Channing Tatum has the proper presence as a bruiser rising to stardom in New York City's underground fighting circuit, yet he, co-star Terrence Howard and their castmates are stuck in a dull, cliche-sodden drama during the many moments when someone's fist isn't connecting with someone else's jaw...

Best-selling author, talk-show host and economist Dave Ramsey believes fear has gripped the American people during the recession and it needs to stop. "Fear is false evidence appearing real and that's what we're trying to combat tonight," Ramsey said during a live 'Town Hall for Hope' nationwide simulcast Thursday. "Does that make it any easier if you're hurting? No. But we've got to stop this hysteria that's making everything worse."...

By: Juanita Churchwell This picture is of my daughter Brittney Wikle at her Senior WInter Formal. I swear the grow up SO Fast!!! . Congrats Seniors of 2009*

By: Pat Harp A little surprise in the climbing rose!

By: Mike Ramsey The Cape Girardeau Fire Department purchased an engine and a ladder truck six months after the deaths of two of the Fire Departments horses. The horses were electrocuted by a storm damaged downed wire while responding to a fire call at the Daily Republican Newspaper...

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. said Thursday it will temporarily close 13 assembly plants in the U.S. and Mexico -- some for more than two months -- laying off nearly 24,000 workers to pare back a bloated inventory. The closures, which will start in May, vary by factory from as short as three weeks to a long as 11, including the normal two-week July shutdown to change from one model year to the next...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Senate on Thursday passed legislation requiring some insurers to provide coverage for treating autistic children. The legislation would require group health insurance plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism for children younger than 18, beginning in 2010...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House approved three proposed constitutional amendments Thursday that would affirm the right to pray in public, create new tax breaks for some disabled veterans and make it easier to tap a state budget reserve fund...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following call Wednesday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: Jackson Firefighters responded to the following call Wednesday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: ...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Thefts Miscellaneous Jackson The Jackson Police Department releasedthe following items. Arrests do not imply guilt....

Rothbauer; Welker; Carr; Allen; McLain; Pope; Livingston; Cook; Kirkpatrick; Mitchell

25 years ago: April 24, 1984 The state convention of the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri Inc. opens at the Ramada Inn in the afternoon; about 650 garden club members from across the state are expected to attend the three-day meeting. The annual spring floodwater yo-yo is pushing the Mississippi River and others in the area up and down; however, it appears that flooding this spring will be far less severe than in years past; the river stage at Cape Girardeau this morning is at 36.4 feet...

Beauty. It can be seen, heard, imagined, experienced, felt. It's all around us. All we have to do is pay attention. --- Last Saturday evening my wife and I went to one of our favorite Cape Girardeau restaurants. As it turned out, it was prom night for one of the high schools, and the young women were radiant in their special hairdos, makeup and puffy formals. The young men appeared a mite less comfortable in their rented suits, cinched belts and lace-up leather shoes, but they were all handsome...

Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot a bogey-free 8-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Michelle Wie and Na Yeon Choi after the first round of the LPGA Tour's Corona Championship in Morelia, Mexico. Ochoa, the top-ranked Mexican star, also won the 2006 tournament at Tres Marias...

ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols stroked line drives to all three fields. It was a bad omen for the New York Mets. Pujols homered twice and Kyle Lohse lasted just long enough for another win after jamming his right knee as the St. Louis Cardinals completed a three-game sweep with a 12-8 victory over the Mets on Thursday...

POPLAR BLUFF -- With the Poplar Bluff Mules slowly chipping away at Jackson's early eight-run lead, the Indians turned to Bobby Clark in the seventh inning Thursday. Clark shut the door on the Mules, pitching around a two-out walk, and Jackson held on for a 10-8 win...

The streaking Southeast Missouri State softball team powered its way to a sweep of Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill., on Thursday. The Redhawks took the first game 6-2 and the second game 11-3 to push their winning streak to eight games...

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons obtained tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday for a draft pick next year. The Falcons will send a second-round pick in 2010 to Kansas City in exchange for Gonzalez, the only tight end in NFL history selected to 10 Pro Bowls, the Chiefs announced...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- An official at a Florida pharmacy said Thursday the business incorrectly prepared a supplement given to 21 polo horses that died over the weekend while preparing to play in a championship match. Jennifer Beckett of Franck's Pharmacy in Ocala, Fla., said in a statement that the business conducted an internal investigation that found "the strength of an ingredient in the medication was incorrect." The statement did not say what the ingredient was...

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- A coastal wildfire spread Thursday near one of the busiest tourist stretches in South Carolina, burning dozens of homes and forcing hundreds to flee in the middle of the night. No injuries were reported and officials said the blaze appeared to be heading several miles north of the most densely populated areas...

WASHINGTON -- Millions of people jobless. Billions of dollars in bailouts. Trillions of dollars in U.S. debt. And yet, for the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is on the right track. In a sign that President Obama has inspired hopes for a brighter future in the first 100 days of his presidency, an Associated Press-GfK poll shows that 48 percent of Americans believe the United States is headed in the right direction -- compared with 44 percent who disagree...

BAGHDAD -- Suicide bomb blasts tore through crowds waiting for food aid in central Baghdad and inside a roadside restaurant filled with Iranian pilgrims Thursday, killing at least 78 people in Iraq's deadliest day in more than a year. The toll -- at least 31 dead in Baghdad and 47 to the north in Diyala province -- follows a series of high-profile attacks this month blamed on Sunni insurgents. ...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Residents upset by a rash of recent dog poisonings said the problem has been going on for years, and that the perpetrator needs to be caught before it happens again. Fifteen dogs were found dead Wednesday, and more are missing in the Mississippi County town of East Prairie...

For months, Southeast Missouri State University student Zarah Ahmad monitored English media outlets in India and Pakistan before giving a national policy recommendation to a think tank in Washington, D.C. As part of her research project for a senior seminar class, Ahmad formulated policy concerning terrorism in the disputed Kashmir region of India. It was part of a group effort with four other students...

About 150 people are expected to attend tonight's 22nd annual Charles L. Hutson Auction in downtown Cape Girardeau. Started by the late Charles Hutson of Hutson's Fine Furniture, the goal of the auction is to raise money for Old Town Cape. Last year an all-time high of $25,000 was raised in the silent and live auctions...

ST. LOUIS -- Plans for a second nuclear reactor in mid-Missouri appear to be dead after AmerenUE said Thursday that it has suspended its proposed $6 billion project with no intention to revisit it anytime soon. The utility's announcement came a day after supporters of legislation designed to help it build a second reactor called it increasingly unlikely the bill would pass this year. Now, AmerenUE has asked legislative sponsors to withdraw both the House and Senate bills from consideration...

SCHOLARSHIPS The following students received scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2009-2010 school year: HONORS, ACHIEVEMENTS -- From staff reports ...

Here's the part that's NOT in debate about the May cover of Washingtonian magazine: Barack Obama looks pretty darned good in a swimsuit -- especially for a president. What IS being debated are issues of propriety and ethics. Was it disrespectful to display the presidential pecs -- alongside a headline calling the chief executive "hot"? And, in a separate journalistic flap, was it wrong to alter the color of his swimsuit from black (or dark navy) to a bright red?...

Friday "Fighting" PG-13, 105 mins @ Cape West 14 Cine <B>[StartDouble]Obsessed" PG-13, 100 mins @ Cape West 14 Cine <B>[StartDouble]Sunshine Cleaning" R, 102 mins @ Cape West 14 Cine <B>[StartDouble]The Soloist" PG-13, 109 mins @ Town Plaza Cinema...

Because he is a male violinist, Jacob Glaus fit the part by default. "I wasn't really into drama but a lot of people found out I play the violin," he said. Glaus, a sophomore at Saxony Lutheran High School, will fiddle in the school's production of "Fiddler on the Roof" this weekend, his theater debut. The musical, set in early 20th century Russia, depicts religious changes in the country...

Community Counseling Center and Old Town Cape are holding fundraising parties tonight Two key organizations in Cape Girardeau are holding fundraising events today, so if you're looking for something fun to do and help a worthwhile group at the same time, check these out:...

I recently learned about Southeast Missouri State University's Walk for Women's Athletics event and couldn't help questioning the implication that there is a need for more scholarships for women. After all, it's common knowledge that college campuses across the country have been at least 60 percent female since the early 1990s, even though females only make up 51 percent of the population...

Our national debt is $11,198,890,625,871.21. The debt grew roughly $4 trillion under President Bush, but half of that occurred in the two years Democrats controlled Congress and the checkbook. President Obama will add another $1.75 trillion in 2009. Both parties share the blame for reckless spending, and both attempt to justify it with talking points...

OSHA rules; Government waste; Investigation needed; Census spending; Highway approach

Eggs aren't just for eating. Did you know you can do some cool science experiments with eggs? Get an adult to help you with this experiment. Materials Instructions STEP 1: Light a small piece of paper on fire with the matches and immediately place the paper in the jar...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Rev. Jessie L. "Dude" Long, 81, of Marble Hill died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hurricane Fork General Baptist Church near Marble Hill. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. ...

Christine O. Schaefer, 89, of Jackson died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at Jackson Manor. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, with the Rev. John Harth officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Hester "Sis" Williams, 65, of McClure died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Nov. 11, 1943, in Gale, Ill., to Ray and Pansy Prater Kirby. She married James H. Williams Feb. 14, 1961...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Plez Harvell, 89, of Tamms died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 7, 1919, in Delta, Ill., to George and Osee Crocker Harvell. He and Mildred Lawrence were married in May 1940 and enjoyed 68 years together...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Normalee Lowry, 80, of Marble Hill died Thursday, April 23, 2009, at her home. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. A graveside service will be held at noon Monday at Cave Hill Cemetery at Cave In Rock, Ill...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Rearl Renae Fitzgerald, 37, of Cairo died Saturday, April 18, 2009, at her home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Saturday at Cairo High School. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the school, with the Rev. J.L. Posey officiating. Burial will be in Spencer Heights Memorial Park in Mounds, Ill...

Mary O. Fortner, 82, of Jackson died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at Jackson Manor. She was born Dec. 22, 1926, in Malden, Mo., daughter of Harry Edward and Kittie Bell Capshaw Rayburn. She and James "Rush" Fortner were married Feb. 28, 1948, in Malden. He died Dec. 11, 2008...

With rare exception, we at AmerenUE have stayed silent when the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has published editorials nearly every week questioning our motives. But the editorial "Fuzzy math, Ameren-style" (April 19) and an accompanying editorial cartoon crossed the line. They called into question the integrity of a company that has served Missourians for more than a century, a company that offers St. Louisans the lowest electric rates found in any U.S. city...

AmerenUE is telling lawmakers and ratepayers that financing charges for a new nuclear plant would increase electric rates by 10.5 percent. Or maybe 10.8 percent. Certainly no more than 10.99 percent. State regulators did the math for themselves. The result, based on data provided by the utility: a 23 percent increase over current rates by 2017 -- more than double any figure that AmerenUE is using...

Junior Cody Kennedy struck out 14 batters and didn't allow a hit as Meadow Heights blanked Scott County Central on Thursday. The only baserunners to reach against Kennedy were on a walk and an error in the 13-0 win. Kennedy picked off the runner that reached on the walk for his eighth pickoff of the season...

Encourage us, O God, to always seek right choices and wise decisions. Amen.

By: Gila Todd My beautiful grandson having a blast, doing what he does best, being a mess. See the twinkle in his eye? What a wonderful mess he is!

By: Pat Harp Tree peonys have such beautiful huge blooms!