Stories from Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Former Missouri House speaker Rod Jetton has a new judge and a new court date on felony assault charges pending in Scott County.

Cape Girardeau police are investigating three burglaries they say occurred in the early morning hours Monday. Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said perpetrators gained entry to Sonic, 2126 Broadway, by breaking a window. A cash box with money inside was stolen...

The Missouri Department of Transportation plans to replace nine Cape Girardeau County bridges it has identified as the most in need of repair. During Monday's Cape Girardeau County Commission meeting, MoDOT regional field engineer Andy Meyer said those bridges in the county are among the 802 bridges scheduled for replacement within four years through its Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program. First instituted in 2009, the program's goal is improving the lowest-rated bridges by Oct. 31, 2014.

This is one of a pair of eagles that has been fishing the open water of the Crooked Creek. Much of the creek froze over on the surface leaving pools and corners open where the eagles have been hunting.

Matt McKenzie of Canedy Signs installs a HealthPoint floor cling at West Park Mall on Tuesday. The floor cling is designed to illustrate a person's jumping-off point for their health choices. They can either stay on top by living longer, healthier lives with proper diet and exercise, or they can easily plummet into an unhealthy lifestyle...

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals can only hope their new batting coach will now cease to be a sideshow. Mark McGwire's admission of steroids use while shattering Roger Maris' season home run record in 1998 was seen by many on the team as a first step toward rehabilitating a tattered image...

February 6th, the Special Olympics will hold their 4th annual Polar Plunge. This is the biggest fundraiser for the local athletes and we hope you will come joins us at Lake Boutin. More info at www.somo.org/capeplunge The Cape Kiwanis club challenges all other service organizations to plunge and raise money for our athletes...

Crews demolished a section of a building on Broadway that a Cape Girardeau developer who recently purchased the structure had hoped to use for commercial development.

Musicians from Central and Jackson high schools came together Monday night at the River Campus to give a preview of concert pieces they have dedicated themselves to perfect. Three groups from the schools -- a jazz ensemble and a percussion ensemble from Jackson and the symphonic band from Central -- are preparing to attend the 72nd annual Missouri Music Educators Conference, held at Tan-Tar-A Resort at Lake of the Ozarks on Jan. 29...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. Jason Crowell, R - Cape Girardeau, filed Senate Bill 728, which will subject Missouri's tax credits to the General Assembly's appropriation process. The bill would modify tax credits to be treated as every other state expenditure, where recipients of the tax credit would have the opportunity to present their case as to why the General Assembly should allocate tax credits to their program. ...

LANTANA, Fla. -- It started with a cough, a cool-season hack that refused to go away. Then came the fevers. They bathed and chilled the skinny frame of Oswaldo Juarez, a 19-year-old Peruvian visiting to study English. His lungs clattered, his chest tightened and he ached with every gasp. During a wheezing fit at 4 a.m., Juarez felt a warm knot rise from his throat. He ran to the bathroom sink and spewed a mouthful of blood...

Three Scott City residents and one Cape Girardeau resident were arrested on suspicion of burglary and assault early Saturday morning after Cape Girardeau police were called twice to the 600 block of South Henderson Avenue. Homeowners at 646 S. Henderson Ave. reported their residence was broken into...

The deadline to file for school board elections is a week from today, and a former superintendent and current school board member have filed for positions in Cape Girardeau. Don Call and incumbent Paul Nenninger will run for three-year terms in the April 6 election...

CHICAGO -- Ousted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich told a magazine interviewer that he's "blacker than Barack Obama" but said Monday that he's sorry for his poor choice of words. Blagojevich, in an interview on WLS Radio in Chicago, said he was only speaking metaphorically to the reporter whose story will appear in the February issue of Esquire magazine, on newsstands next week...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, will return to her broadcast roots and take her conservative message to Fox News as a regular commentator, the cable channel announced Monday...

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

Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday:...

Missouri's budgeting process is a mixture of financial prudence and political policy. Early revenue estimates indicate this year's budget process will be brutal. To start with, the governor's office and legislative leaders have agreed on a consensus revenue estimate, which serves as something of a starting point. It is a guesstimate of how much revenue the state will take in. The CRE for fiscal year 2011, which starts July 1 of this year, shows just how difficult the budgeting process will be...

As Cape Girardeau's comprehensive wayfinding review and design process moves forward, some clarification is needed, since informed public input is vital to a successful process. Wayfinding is not just about signs, but about using all visual information -- signage, maps, landmarks and icons -- to steer pedestrians and vehicles through unfamiliar environments. ...

THE World War II generation was certainly a great generation, but it wasn't because of rugged individualism. One example of how this generation was assisted by others through the government will suffice: the GI Bill, allowing hundreds of thousands of veterans to attend college and universities. This idea of rugged individualism is a myth...

Bertha "Toots" Ahrens, 96, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Oct. 30, 1913, in New Hamburg, Mo., to Louis and Caroline Schott Kilhafner. She and Jack Ahrens were married Oct. 26, 1936, at Oran, Mo. He preceded her in death Sept. 13, 1984...

Cecil L. Davis, 92, of Janesville, Wis., died Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Mercy Hospital. He was born Nov. 15, 1917, in Jackson, son of John W. and Anita C. Loos Davis. He and Geneva Moore were married July 29, 1938. Cecil farmed in Rock County near Janesville and then was employed 23 years in the office at JATCO, retiring as assistant director of safety personnel. ...

Marie Davis, 88, of Scott City died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Mo. She was born April 3, 1921, in Tupelo, Ark., daughter of John and Lilly Grade Graves. She and Author Clyde Davis Sr. were married in 1936. He preceded her in death in 1965...

GLENALLEN, Mo. -- Goldie Marie Dry, 83, of Glenallen passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 10, 1926, in Allenville, daughter of Herman and Victoria Smith McIntyre. She married Charles Dry on Aug. 7, 1948. He preceded her in death March 29, 1995...

Lorene Geneva Grossheider, 87, of Greenwood, S.C., died Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at Wesley Commons Assisted Living Facility in Greenwood. She was born in Gordonville, daughter of the late Alvin John Jacob Grossheider and Elsie Amolia Marie Graden. She moved to Aiken, S.C., in 2001 from St. ...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Pearlene Mae Linhart, 81, of Marble Hill died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 20, 1928, in Paducah, Ky., daughter of John Alvin and Louerie "Maudie" Bailey Davis. Pearlene first married William David Hannah. He died in 1967. She later married B.B. "Sonny" Linhart on Feb. 22, 1970, in East Prairie, Mo. He died June 9, 2001...

Erna "Jean" Niswonger, 90, of Jackson passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. She was born April 26, 1919, in Millersville, daughter of Grover Cleveland and Dona Catherine Thaxton Fulbright. She and Glenn O. Niswonger were married June 10, 1942, in Joplin, Mo. He passed away March 9, 2008...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Carol Ann White, 63, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of Bloomfield, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010. Dear daughter of the late William and Marie White; dear sister and sister-in-law of Laura (Dick) Mize of New Melle, Mo., Mary (Vernon) Hopkins of Cape Girardeau, Bill (Phyllis) White of Advance, Mo., Nancy (Ray) Shock of Jackson; dear aunt of Mindy (Steve) Moats, Brett (Elaine) Matthews, Barry (Cheryl) Matthews, Beth Shock, Shelley (Matt) Keeney, and Jennifer (Doug) McDaniel; dear great-aunt of Andy, Corey, Elizabeth, Joe, Grant, Jackson, Macie, Carson and Mackenzie; and special friend of Rick Ahrens.. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Harlon E. Parnell, 83, of Chaffee, formerly of Scott City, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 28, 1926, at Denton, Mo., son of Eckless and Ethel Maude Willis Parnell. He and Ada E. Enlow were married Sept. 4, 1948...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Virginia M. Emmendorfer, 79, of Perryville died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Feb. 17, 1930, in Perryville, daughter of Albert C. and Ruth V. Feltz Fadler. She and Sylvester J. Emmendorfer were married April 15, 1950...

BROWNWOOD, Mo. -- Blanche Lee Melba Swinford, 73, of Brownwood passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at her home. She was born May 20, 1936, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of David and Ruby Probst Mandrell, and one of 14 children. Blanche was a member of Grace Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in Advance, Mo. Blanche and Lester "Red" Swinford were married April 5, 1953, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Aug. 3, 2009...

VIENNA, Ill. -- Cathy Hill, 54, of Vienna, formerly of Anna, Ill., died Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Ill. Visitation will be from noon to service time today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jeff Gee officiating. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery...

ANNA, Ill. -- Patricia Ann Tweedy, 71, of Anna died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010. The funeral was held Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anna, with the Rev. Federico Higuera officiating. Burial was in Jonesboro Cemetery. Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro, Ill., was in charge of arrangements...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Bob Joe Staten, 75, of Marble Hill died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Gerald Huff officiating. Burial will be in Cook Cemetery at Scopus, Mo...

Son to Benji K. Hahs and Jamie K. Egan of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. Name, Hayden Eugene. Weight, 7 pounds. Ms. Egan is the daughter of Bonita Fuller and Jim Egan of Jackson. Hahs is the son of Earlene Hahs of Jackson and Randy Hahs of Cape Girardeau...

At a news conference yesterday, Saint Francis Medical Center officials outlined the status of the center's new neurological facility and introduced Dr. Yong Kie Kim, Cape Girardeau's first neurosurgeon. Robert E. Gass, Cape Girardeau city park superintendent and airport manager, will resign his posts on March 1, leaving city government after almost 24 years of service...

Warm our hearts, O God, and move us to have compassion and tolerance. Amen.

CHICAGO -- Characters in children's movies are wising up about personal safety, increasingly using seat belts, bike helmets and crosswalks, but many still aren't ideal role models, a government study found. The trend may reflect efforts by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other groups to get Hollywood to convey positive public health messages. But the study also shows these efforts haven't been universally endorsed...

Dear Governor Nixon: A federal health care takeover and mandate thrust upon us by President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on the brink of being passed into law despite the overwhelming public outcry opposing their efforts. ...

WASHINGTON -- Ten months into President Barack Obama's first economic stimulus plan, a surge in spending on U.S. roads and bridges has had no effect on local unemployment and only barely helped the construction industry, an Associated Press analysis has found...

DETROIT -- The vital signs are improving for American automakers. General Motors may reopen some closed factories because it can't produce four of its vehicles fast enough to meet demand, and Chrysler is set to hire more engineers and product development workers...

The economic slump appears to have taken a toll on Super Bowl ads, pushing the price down for only the second time in the game's history, though they're still the most expensive on television. While early readings suggest there are better deals this year over last, Pepsi won't advertise its drinks for the first time in 23 seasons, joining FedEx and GM, who dropped out last year. In their absence, newcomers and smaller companies have snatched up slots in advertising's biggest showcase...

LOS ANGELES -- Pete Carroll loves challenges and the NFL game. The Seattle Sea-hawks offered both, and not even Southern California could compete. Carroll ended his nine-year tenure with the Trojans on Monday, leaving behind a program facing multiple woes for a lucrative deal to coach the Seahawks...

ST. LOUIS -- Rory Russo will never forget that September night in 1998 as he watched Mark McGwire's record-breaking 62nd homer curl just over the fence just inside the foul pole in left field at old Busch Stadium. Everyone at the ballpark was going nuts except Russo's wife -- she had picked that inopportune moment for a trip to the restroom...

When Notre Dame senior center Jane Morrill was injured a minute into the second quarter, the Bulldogs lost their way. Farmington (7-3) took full advantage and turned an early deficit into a 53-50 victory at Notre Dame on Monday night. Morrill, who has signed to play basketball next season at Arkansas State, appeared to dislocate her index finger of her nonshooting hand, an injury that turned the tide in the Knightettes' favor...

All of the area high school results reported Monday to the Southeast Missourian.

Southeast Missouri State junior forward Cameron Butler was named Ohio Valley Conference co-newcomer of the week in men's basketball. Butler scored double figures in back-to-back games for the Redhawks last week. He scored 16 points in a 56-53 win at home last Monday against Jacksonville State...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Any doubt that Kurt Warner will go down as one of the greatest playoff quarterbacks of all time had to end with his wild card masterpiece. Against the No. 2 defense in the NFL, without one of his best receivers in Anquan Boldin, old No. 13 was nearly flawless...

Khalil Greene is close to becoming a utility infielder for the Texas Rangers. Greene has agreed to a one-year deal to fill a utility role for Texas, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been finalized, and one of them said Monday that a physical was pending...

NEW YORK -- Mark McGwire finally came clean, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998. McGwire said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade. "It's very emotional, it's telling family members, friends and coaches, you know, it's former teammates to try to get ahold of, you know, that I'm coming clean and being honest," he said during a 20-minute telephone interview, his voice repeatedly cracking. ...

Text of the statement Mark McGwire issued Monday, admitting he used steroids during his career:"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago. "I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. ...

Route M in northern Perry County will be reduced to one lane of traffic during the next month for routine bridge repairs, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced. Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, from today through Feb. 12, weather permitting. The section of road is between County Road 816 and the Interstate 55 outer road...

Cape Girardeau, Old Town Cape and the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau will host two evenings of meetings, with representatives of the three local organizations and the Florida consulting firm present to present ideas, ask for public feedback and discuss the results of the meetings. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. today and Thursday in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, 235 Broadway...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- NBC Sports has announced a partnership to televise a half-dozen key prep races this spring leading up to the Kentucky Derby on May 1. The announcement Monday by NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Inc. includes three one-hour broadcasts -- two on NBC and one on USA Network. The broadcasts will include the Louisiana Derby, Lane's End Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Stakes and Arkansas Derby...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Redskins running backs coach Stump Mitchell has accepted the head coaching job at Southern University. Mitchell met with new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan on Monday morning and turned in his final report on the team's running backs. Mitchell's agent, Burton Rocks, says Mitchell then started his drive south and plans to appear at a news conference in Baton Rouge on Wednesday...

The filing deadline for school board elections is Jan 19. Here is a list of candidates who filed for school board races by Monday afternoon: Altenburg Harold FranceRichard SachsChaffee No filings Delta Michelle Steimle Jackson Dan StoverGerald Adams*...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo.--Gov. Jay Nixon joked about how he knew he could not come empty handed, upon returning to Three Rivers Community College on Monday to unveil that the state's two-year institutions will receive $12 million. The governor announced that the "Training for Tomorrow" initiative will enhance existing high-tech programs in high-demand fields such as health care, so Missourians can get back to work quickly...