Stories from Monday, July 6, 2009

NEW YORK -- Albert Pujols will be in a familiar spot when St. Louis hosts the 80th All-Star game. Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is headed for a brand new situation. Pujols was the leading vote-getter in balloting for the Midsummer Classic announced Sunday by Major League Baseball, giving the Cardinals first baseman the start in his home ballpark...

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. - A Cape Girardeau man was injured in a Friday evening crash on Route A. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Brandon D. Baker, 29, of Fenton, Mo., was exiting Route A and attempted to over correct his 2004 Lincoln. That caused the vehicle to exit the left side of the roadway and overturn several times...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Poplar Buff attorney arrested for selling prescription drugs in Stoddard County in December 2006 now has a trial date. Richard J. Bascom, 42, will be tried before Judge Stephen Sharp in a Stoddard County courtroom on Jan. 22, 2010...

Cape Girardeau County officials and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency will hold a meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the County Administration Building, 1 Barton Square, Jackson, to discuss the latest flood insurance rating maps for the county. ...

DONIPHAN, Mo. (AP) -- Two people from Poplar Bluff are dead after two boats collided on the Current River in southeast Missouri. The Missouri State Water Patrol on Monday identified the victims as 11-year-old Jerry Mote and 25-year-old Josh Burson. Both were passengers on johnboats that collided about 3:30 p.m. Sunday while traveling in opposite directions on the river near Doniphan, just north of the Arkansas border...

Taking over Indian Park for the Independence Day weekend is an attempt to show that Cape Girardeau's poor have unmet needs that should be addressed, the Rev. Larry Rice said Saturday. Rice, who said he has not given up on obtaining the federal building at 339 Broadway to use as a homeless shelter, set up an outpost of his New Life Evangelistic Center with the help of the NAACP's Southeast Missouri chapter. ...

The Next-Generation Jobs Team, a Missouri summer internship program funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, pays for students to work for companies. The program gives students job experience and helps budget-strapped businesses.

View from the roof of the Andrew Jackson building.

View from the roof of the Andrew Jackson building

View from the roof of the Andrew Jackson building

View from the roof of the Andrew Jackson building

View from the roof of the Andrew Jackson building

Fireworks over the Court House

Saundra Crader overlooking Omaha Beach. View from inside a German bunker.

This July 4 weekend capped off a strong season for fireworks sales, though police reported fewer violations than they normally see over the holiday. "It was great, one of our best years ever in one location," said Mary Ann Hoffman, co-owner of Hoffman Family Fireworks...

I will never forget what I saw and heard at the Naturalization Ceremony at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis of July 4th, 2009. I was among hundreds of visitors in the courthouse on that day and was on the first balcony in the rotunda overlooking the 77 candidates...

An overgrowth of vegetation masks the areas of the Lake Boutin dam worn away by erosion, but officials at Trail of Tears State Park say the damage caused by 2008 rains is significant enough to cause serious concerns about its structural integrity. The lake has remained closed to swimmers for more than a year, and park staff get constant complaints and questions about when it will reopen, said assistant park superintendent Jim Griggs...

Gerry Jones may be known for his experience in the real estate business, but he also dabbles in the farm business. Jones, 42, has spent much of his life near Fruitland. He graduated from Jackson High School and holds degrees from University of Missouri and the University of Missouri School of Law...

During a break from the roar of overworked engines and the crunch of smashing cars, Greg Priest had a few things to say about what Independence Day means to him and his family. With four of his children -- Aaron and Josh, both 9, Bonnie, 5, and Jeremy, 7 -- and a 13-year-old nephew named Josh, Priest was taking in the demolition derby that was the daytime highlight of Cape Girardeau's July 4 celebration. ...

For those who labor outdoors in summer's heat, we pray to you, O God. Amen.

CLARE, Mich. -- "Cops & Doughnuts" is more than a punchline. It's now a bakery in Michigan -- owned by nine full-time employees of the Clare Police Department. The newly renamed bakery opened Wednesday, offering doughnuts, cookies, muffins, brownies and bread. It also has mugs and T-shirts bearing the "Cops & Doughnuts, 100 Percent Cop-Owned" logo...

POULTNEY, Vt. -- Devin Lyons typically starts his days this summer cooking fresh eggs for breakfast from the farm's chicken coop. Then, depending on the weather, he and a dozen other college students might cut hay in the field using a team of oxen, turn compost or weed vegetable beds...

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Part of a Fourth of July fireworks crowd overloaded a pedestrian bridge to about twice its capacity before it collapsed and sent about 50 people tumbling into a lake, the township trustee in charge of the bridge said Sunday...

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

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

25 years ago: July 6, 1984 State Sen. Edwin L. Dirck, D-St. Ann, chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, cautions the Cape Girardeau City Council to "get its act together" in selection of a site for the multipurpose building, or the $3.2 million appropriated by the state could go to another state university building...

Tracy; Ringwald

After nearly 11 years of conducting business in Cape Girardeau, Steve Majeed has sold SEMO Gas and Stevie's Steakburger. Majeed is returning to Pakistan within the next few weeks to join his wife, Toni, and their children, who already are living there. For some time Majeed has been planning to sell his businesses and move to his homeland but wasn't able to close the deal until June 30...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Two monorail trains crashed early Sunday morning in the Magic Kingdom section of Walt Disney World, killing one train's operator, emergency officials said. The transit system, which shuttles thousands of visitors around the sprawling resort each day, was shut down while authorities investigated the holiday weekend wreck...

MOSCOW -- President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev end a seven-year hiatus in U.S.-Russian summitry today, with each declaring his determination to further cut nuclear arsenals and repair a badly damaged relationship. Both sides appear to want to use progress on arms control as a pathway to possible agreement on trickier issues, including Iran and Georgia, a former Soviet republic. ...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Ousted President Manuel Zelaya was kept from landing at the main Honduras airport Sunday because the runway was blocked by groups of soldiers with military vehicles, some of them lined up against a crowd of thousands outside. His Venezuelan pilot circled around the airport and decided not to risk a crash...

OVERLAND, Mo. -- John Wastle of Scotland has spent eight years and countless hours researching questions about the father he has never met. The answers, he hopes, are among the millions of military records stored at a division of the National Archives and Records Administration off Page Avenue in Overland...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- Lots of children -- some now adults -- have met Connie Koch as she gave educational programs over the years. Many don't remember her name, but they remember who she is: the Snake Lady. "That's great, because I made an impression on some people and chances are I taught them something about reptiles and their worth in our world," she said...

A special Cape Girardeau School District committee has been evaluating buildings for several months. The likely result is a vote next April on a no-tax-increase $35 million bond issue that would address needs at all 10 of the district's buildings and other facilities...

Useless battle; Making laws; Better carnival; TV escape; Ban fireworks; School pattern; Try recycling; Our legacies; Local weather; Not foolproof; Cutting out; Immigrant workers; Ugly, beautiful; Channel control; No more excuses; Women in charge; Trees on Broadway; Thanks, lifeguards; Share the road

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some Missouri residents and businesses soon could see a new charge on their electric bills -- a fee for using less energy. Though it might seem illogical, the new energy efficiency charge has support from utilities, most lawmakers, the governor, environmentalists and even the state's official utility consumer advocate. The charge covers the cost of utilities' efforts to promote energy efficiency and cut power use...

Tiger Woods made it a hat trick of victories in tournaments hosted by PGA Tour stars, this one the most meaningful of all because it was his own. Woods lived up to his hopes of being a "greedy host" Sunday, leaving Anthony Kim in his wake and then making a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to overtake hard-charging Hunter Mahan for a one-shot victory in his AT&T National in Bethesda, Md...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Shot twice in the head and two more times in the chest, former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was the victim of a homicide, police declared Sunday. But authorities wouldn't say it was a murder-suicide -- even with his 20-year-old girlfriend dead at his feet from a single bullet...

BRIGNOLES, France -- Britain's Mark Cavendish won the second stage of the Tour de France in searing heat Sunday, with seven-time champion Lance Armstrong finishing safely in the trailing pack. Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland kept the overall lead after capturing the opening time trial a day earlier. He leads Alberto Contador by 18 seconds. Bradley Wiggins is third, 19 seconds back, and Armstrong is 10th overall, 40 seconds behind...

WIMBLEDON, England -- Roger Federer hoisted the trophy and celebrated making Grand Slam history, a year removed from an epic five-set final when he left Wimbledon a broken man, his title ripped away and his aura of invincibility shattered. Federer waged another five-set marathon Sunday, and left as the holder of the most prestigious record in tennis. ...

NEW YORK -- A bankruptcy judge has ruled that General Motors Corp. can sell the bulk of its assets to a new company, potentially clearing the way for the automaker to quickly emerge from bankruptcy protection. U.S. Judge Robert Gerber said in his 95-page ruling late Sunday that the sale was in the best interests of both GM and its creditors, whom he said would otherwise get nothing...

Cape jewelers' store mentioned in St. Louis magazine Chuck and Laura McGinty, who own McGinty Jewelers in Cape Girardeau, opened a second jewelry store in St. Louis two years ago. That store has been named an A-List '09 winner by St. Louis magazine and designated as a Hot List '09 winner by ALIVE magazine. The St. Louis store is a boutique modeled after the 30-year-old Cape Girardeau business...

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin didn't wait long to give some hint of what her political life might look like after she leaves office at the end of the month. After staying out of the public eye for most of Saturday, a day after abruptly announcing she would soon give up her job as governor, Palin indicated on a social networking site that she would take on a larger, national role, citing a "higher calling" to unite the country along conservative lines...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- William E. "Bill" Reeves, 73, of Perryville died Thursday, July 2, 2009, at his residence. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at Young and Sons Chapel. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Stan Hargis officiating...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Space is preparing to go a little nuts. NASA satellite images could soon give information to nut growers about their orchard's health, allowing them to stay ahead of plant stress issues, pests and diseases that could affect crop yield and quality...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jesse A. Statler, 86, of Chaffee died Saturday, July 4, 2009, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. He was born Sept. 24, 1922, in Lixville, Mo., son of the late Julius S. and Willie E. Statler Statler. He and Betty White were married June 30, 1962...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kenneth E. Corse, 75, of Perryville died Sunday, July 5, 2009, at his home. He was born Sept. 21, 1933, in Perry County, Mo., son of Fred R. Corse and Dolly (Horn) Corse of Columbia, Mo. Corse worked for Saberliner Corp. of Perryville for 49 years as an aircraft electrician...

Jack Ray Bueltemann, 74, retired driver for Memphis City Fire Department, died July 4, 2009, at his home in Memphis, Tenn. He was born June 29, 1935, in Cape Girardeau. Bueltemann was a member of West Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church, National Guard, and an avid fisherman and hunter...

Michael C. "Mike" Halter, 54, of Jackson passed away Saturday, July 4, 2009, at Monticello House in Jackson. Michael was surrounded by his loving family and friends, just as he had been since 2003 when he received the diagnosis of semantic dementia...

Jackson Legionplaces third The Jackson Senior Legion baseball team edged Jonesboro, Ark., 8-7 on Sunday to finish third in the Seven-Up Classic in Paragould, Ark. Caleb Hosey threw 6 1/3 innings to record the win. He struck out six, walked two and allowed five hits. Chad Scroggins obtained the final two outs for the save...

CINCINNATI -- The lopsided win was anticlimactic for the St. Louis Cardinals. Colby Rasmus' homer started an eight-run onslaught against slumping Bronson Arroyo, and the Cardinals got another solid start from Chris Carpenter on Sunday for a 10-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that was a perfect finishing touch...

BOSTON -- A deadline is approaching for the possible sale of The Boston Globe. The New York Times Co., which owns the Globe, has set a Wednesday deadline for initial, nonbinding bids. That's according to a confidential letter sent by Goldman Sachs to potential buyers. The letter was obtained by the New York Times...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' new $1.15 billion stadium would probably be off-limits for underground drilling under the team's contract with the city of Arlington. City Attorney Jay Doegey said there are concerns about the possible risks of drilling under such an expensive and huge structure, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday. The stadium weighs more than 805 million pounds...

NEW YORK -- The U.S. services economy -- from retailers and restaurants to real estate brokers -- contracted less than expected in June in its best showing since before the financial crisis struck last fall, according to a private trade group's gauge...

When the new GI Bill kicks in Aug. 1, the government's best-known education program for veterans will get the biggest boost since its World War II-era creation. But the benefit is hardly the "Government Issue," one-size-fits-all standard the name implies...

LEMAY, Mo. -- Craig Schutzius was something of a pioneer when he opened his tattoo parlor here 27 years ago. He had one of the few tattoo shops in the entire St. Louis region. And, back in those days, Karen McMullen never would have set foot inside any of them...