Stories from Monday, June 29, 2009

KENNETT, Mo. -- A former Campbell, Mo., police dispatcher is heading to prison after pleading guilty to more than a dozen counts of possession of child pornography. Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp sentenced Matthew Tillmon Wednesday to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of 14 counts of possession of child pornography, Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff said in a press release...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Despite bearing two inches of ice atop their branches in January, the trees in Mike Leible's peach orchard have bounced back, and the peach harvest will begin any day now. Leible, co-owner of Dogwood Peach Orchard, said recently he is fielding questions from local residents about whether or not he would have peaches this summer after last winter's ice storm...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. - Citing a decrease in customer volume, officials at TG Missouri announced this morning the reduction of nearly 30 hourly and salary employees from support groups and management. Spokesperson Rhonda Ruark said the latest reductions did not impact production employees -- some recently laid off production employees have been recalled because of an increase in customer volume. However, that increase was not enough to prevent the layoffs announced today...

Broadway in Cape Girardeau will be closed as a safety precaution late tonight while the old Howard's Athletic Goods building at 835 Broadway is razed. The building is being demolished as part of a larger project by Southeast Missouri State University to add parking for students and staff...

A man faces charges for allegedly threatening to blow up the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. federal courthouse in retaliation for a police officer notifying immigration authorities about him, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle...

Downtown Cape Girardeau and the River Campus came alive with the thwacking sound of steel on plastic Sunday as golfers of all ages and skill levels competed in the First-Ever Fourth Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-Famous Downtown Golf Tournament and All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Buffet.

My family and I was on vacation in the Smokies and came across this cute little cub bear. Thankfully he was more interested in the clover than us.

People planning to downsize their vacations because of the struggling economy may actually be boosting camping and other summer recreational pursuits in Cape Girardeau. Shorter trips where people don't venture very far from home have become more common, and the popularity of the trend has led to more interest in outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, backpacking and birdwatching, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation...

Dustin Oehl, son of Rodney and Pam Oehl, of Oak Ridge, MO was selected as a delegate to represent Missouri 4-H and University of Missouri Extension at the 2009 national 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2009. The process for this great honor began last fall when 4-H members across the state completed the Missouri 4-H Recognition form and submitted them to their local MU Extension office. ...

Colin Osterberg wrote poetry and short stories, and when he died last November at 16 he was writing a novel about a young man finding his way in the world. "I understand the light and the dark/I say what life is and what is expected/I dream of the wonders that are here," he wrote in a poem titled "I Am Who is Watched and Watches."...

Real estate never interested Tom Kelsey as a young man. But today the Scott City native is broker at Lorimont Place Ltd., a Cape Girardeau firm that handles mostly commercial property throughout the region. Business reporter Brian Blackwell sat down with Kelsey last week to discuss his life and the ins and outs of the commercial real estate business...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Billy Mays, the burly, bearded television pitchman whose boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean made him a pop-culture icon, has died. He was 50. Tampa police said Mays' wife found him unresponsive Sunday morning. ...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Julie Martinez-Smith and Kelly Leondelapaz were each looking for a sign. The two women didn't know each other, but both found their prayer answered in the other person. Martinez-Smith was moved to tears by an episode of the television show Extreme Home Makeover and wanted to help someone...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon has touted almost as much new state spending as he has axed in order to balance Missouri's budget. Last week, the Democratic governor vetoed $105 million from the 2010 budget taking effect Wednesday. Calling the cuts a "near record," Nixon said they were needed to preserve state support for health care, education and economic development...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Central Missouri Honor Flight is increasing its trips to Washington, D.C., as Missouri continues to lose its World War II veterans. The Honor Flight program is scheduling as many flights as possible to the World War II Memorial. The trip costs $320...

Photos courtesy Missouri Press Association Mark Bliss accepts the Mildred Wallhousen Friend of SEMO Press Association award for his late wife, Joni Adams Bliss, who died of ovarian cancer July 22, 2008. ...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Arrests Summons Assault Thefts Burglary Property damage Miscellaneous...

Photos courtesy Missouri Press Association The Southeast Missouri Press Association met Friday at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday: Jackson Firefighters responded to the following call Saturday: Firefighters responded to the following call Sunday:...

The owners of the Rose Bed Inn Bed & Breakfast in Cape Girardeau are planning to add an art gallery. Set to open Oct. 2, the Aartful Rose at 631 S. Sprigg St. will feature an art gallery and banquet hall that can accommodate up to 150 people. The groundbreaking for the facility was held last week. Co-owner James Coley said work began that day and should be complete by September...

BOSTON -- The nation's first mounted unit will be disbanded Tuesday because of budget cuts, its 12 horses given new homes -- at least until the city can come up with funds to restore the unit. Police Commissioner Ed Davis told the Boston City Council he had to choose between animals and people, and chose to keep people...

PHOENIX -- There was a time in the Wild West that cowboys had to check their guns before they could pull up a bar stool for a drink -- rules that protected against the saloon gunfights that came to define the frontier era in places like Arizona...

WASHINGTON -- American adults from young to old disagree increasingly today on social values ranging from religion to relationships, creating the largest generation gap since divisions 40 years ago over Vietnam, civil rights and women's liberation...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media....

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Soldiers seized the national palace and flew President Manuel Zelaya into exile Sunday, hours before a disputed constitutional referendum. Congress appointed a successor, but Zelaya, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said he was the victim of an illegal coup...

Southeast Missouri State University's budgeting process this year was affected as much by the recession as most every other segment of the economy. A deal was struck early in the process that maintained state funding levels while schools agreed to forgo any increase in student fees for a year...

We stop to honor our veterans of wars on Memorial Day, and we take time to honor our military on the Fourth of July. I would propose that my mother fits that same category of veteran due the same honor. Mom did not join the military and go off to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Kosovo or Afghanistan. What she did was marry a World War II soldier and raise a family of four boys and three girls...

The atrocities involving child abuse and neglect continue to wreak havoc in our society. This silent epidemic destroys countless lives while posing a substantial threat to future generations as the cycle of violence perpetuates itself. It is crucial to realize that abuse/neglect of a child is a serious crime and should be treated as such. In Missouri, one count of child abuse carries a prison term of five to 15 years if the victim is subjected to serious emotional injury...

Be a president; Empty the trash; Animal restrictions; Firearms in restaurant; Discredited columnist; Woe is America

25 years ago: June 29, 1984 The three incumbents on the Cape Girardeau County Board of Directors for Handicapped Facilities -- Norman Copeland, Robert Phalen and Edward Downs -- were reappointed to new three-year terms by the County Court yesterday; their terms expired at the end of June...

Two remarkable individuals were recognized at the Southeast Missouri Press Association meeting recently. They are Joni Adams Bliss, who was the inspirational managing editor of this newspaper for many years before departing to lead Southeast Missouri Hospital's Internet operations; and Mildred Walhausen, who was a newspaper woman in Charleston, Mo., for 73 years, including four decades as publisher of The Enterprise-Courier. ...

Kenny Perry shot 63 Sunday to finish with a tournament-record 258 and win the Travelers Championship by three strokes over Paul Goydos and David Toms. The 48-year old Perry, who led after each of the first two rounds, trailed by a stroke to Paul Goydos heading into Sunday's final round in Cromwell, Conn...

LOUDON, N.H. -- There were questions about the judgment of team owner Joe Gibbs when he decided to replace departing two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart with a 19-year-old rookie this season. Even a rookie considered a phenom. The former NFL coach, head of Joe Gibbs Racing, admitted Sunday he tried not to put too many expectations on the talented, but inexperienced Joey Logano...

Plaza Tire Capahas manager Jess Bolen expected one team to take two out of three during a weekend series against the Crestwood (Ill.) Panthers. Missed opportunities prevented Plaza Tire from being on the winning end of the set at Capaha Field. Crestwood, a Chicago suburb, won the series with Sunday's 4-2 victory in a nine-inning contest after the teams split Saturday's doubleheader that featured games slated for seven innings...

JOHANNESBURG -- Clint Dempsey sobbed as the Americans walked up to get their second-place medals, unable to hide the pain and the disappointment any longer. The euphoria of knocking off Spain last week dissolved Sunday in the Confederations Cup final when Brazil unleashed its "Beautiful Game."...

ST. LOUIS -- Francisco Liriano pitched so well, his unsightly stats coming into the game must have been a typing mistake. The Minnesota left-hander worked seven strong innings backed by Justin Morneau's three-run, first-inning home run in the Twins' 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday...

There was a nice regional flavor to last week's NBA draft, topped by Poplar Bluff native Tyler Hansbrough being the 13th overall pick. Hansbrough, a forward who completed his brilliant career at North Carolina as the ACC's all-time scoring leader, was taken by the Indiana Pacers...

ST. LOUIS -- Minutes after walking into the St. Louis Cardinals' clubhouse, Mark DeRosa was already getting tips from Albert Pujols. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had him batting cleanup behind Pujols, and DeRosa was happy to be with an NL Central contender after a half-season in the American League...

See how we try to do your will, O God, and help us when we struggle. Amen.

Berens, Wulfers assume co-directors posts at Birthright Carol Berens and Mary Wulfers have assumed the acting co-director roles at Birthright of Cape Girardeau. They are serving in the capacity after director Michele Moon moved to Maryville, Mo. Center named in honor of Cape Girardeau businessman...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Walter "Walt" Kluesner, 71, of Chaffee died Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 30, 1938, in Chaffee, son of Frank Bernard and Monica Mary Reischman Kluesner...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Gerald "Jerry" Chisholm, 77, of Advance died Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Advance Nursing Center. He was born Feb. 28, 1932, in Louisiana, son of Brackston and Leodith Calvin Chisholm. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

ORAN, Mo. -- James D. Borneman, 70, of Oran died June 28, 2009, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Mo. Borneman was born July 9, 1938, son of James August Borneman and Henryetta Fowler Borneman. He was a retired service man at Bridgestone Firestone Tire Co.. He and Betty Lou Wilkinson were married June 27, 1957. She survives...

Oltha Mae Helsley Fesler, 89, died Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 8, 1919, in Essex, Mo., daughter of Sherman Helsley and Iva Miles Helsley. She was married to Carney Fesler in Essex on May 3, 1952. He survives...

Dr. Richard Hewitt, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Jan. 21, 1938, in Murphysboro, Ill., he was the son of Ray Hewitt and Laraine Clovis Hewitt. He and Judith Snider Swan Hewitt were married June 16, 1979, in Cape Girardeau...

Mary Margaret Miller, 96, of Sylva, N.C., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Morningstar Assisted Living in Sylva. She was born Aug. 27, 1912, in Gary, Ind., the daughter of Thomas and Viola Hudson Norton. She married Lester Leroy Miller on Aug. 25, 1930. They had been married 51 years when Lester passed away in 1982. A longtime resident of Cape Girardeau, she sold Storybook Dolls in Missouri for 30 years and was affectionately known as "The Doll Lady."...

The Jackson Senior Legion baseball team won a pair of games Saturday to complete a 4-0 weekend. Jackson defeated Calvert City, Ky., 8-3, then beat Bowling Green, Ky., 7-4. Michael Mouser recorded the win on the mound in the first game. He pitched six innings, struck out five, walked two and allowed four hits...

A stretch of Route C in Perry County will be reduced to one lane starting today while MoDOT crews repair pavement, according to a MoDOT news release. The section of road is located from the Cape Girardeau County line to Route U. Weather permitting, work will start at noon today and continue through 5 p.m. Thursday...

For nearly four years, William Holland has been working in St. Louis to build relationships with alumni, donors and corporate leaders for Southeast Missouri State University.