Stories from Sunday, July 4, 2010

After being mothballed for years, Jimmy Gockel's Strategic Air Command Elite Guard uniform now sits under museum lights. Gockel, of Cape Girardeau, joined the U.S. Air Force in 1978 and served in the guard unit from 1982 to 1984. He donated his uniform to the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Neb., for a display honoring the SAC Elite Guard's 50-year reunion in 2006...

A person of interest is being sought for questioning regarding the murder of Matthew "Woody" Ervin, who was found shot to death last week on a Cape Girardeau street.

It is an emotional three days, but the tears start well in advance with the notification process. "From the time we're calling them, I'll have paper towels on the table," said Rob Callahan, founder of the Honor Tour. Since 2007, the Poplar Bluff, Mo., man has been organizing all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C., for World War II veterans. ...

A country singer crooned and tires kicked up dirt during he first two grandstand events at the U.S.A. Veterans Fourth of July celebration behind the Arena Building.

A Jackson man died Saturday morning in a motorcycle crash near Fruitland. Erik M. Marshall, 31, was traveling east on Highway 177 on a 2002 Suzuki Katana motorcycle when he failed to stop at a stop sign at Bella Vista Drive at 7:34 a.m. Saturday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He ran into the side of a 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by Sandra K. Motley, 40, of Jackson...

This is Molly, Dusty, and Kenya. They are 3 of the K-9 members of the Scott County Search and Rescue. They want to wish everyone a wonderful 4th of July and to remind everyone to be safe.

My son, Justin, took this great shot of a beautiful coneflower located in the Jackson City Park Rock Garden!!

I took this shot of this old barn & shed in Fruitland.

Just outside of Benton on hwy E on a summer evening

Fishing on a holiday weekend

Meredith Conklin (5, daughter of Todd and Whitney Conklin, granddaughter of Dan and Lois Conklin and Bev Wiedefeld) outside her great-grandmother, Mary Nothdurft's house on Independence Day.

Flags fly over Jackson's Veteran's Park on the 4th of July.

A car-lover's dream these three classics sat amongst the trees at the annual Jackson 4th of July Car Show in Jackson Park.

Many people have questions about the effect of a casino on Cape Girardeau, but after many years of operation, gaming facilities in other small Missouri towns are seen as community partners, according to business leaders and residents interviewed by the Southeast Missourian...

CAIRO, Ill. -- A suspect has been arrested in connection to a Thursday homicide in Cairo. Melvin Hadley, 28, of Cairo was arrested by police and was housed in the Tri-County Detention Center as of Friday morning, according to a news release from Cairo Police Chief Timothy Brown. Charges were pending with the Alexander County State's Attorney's office...

ST. LOUIS -- Adam Wainwright abandoned his game face when St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa informed the right-hander he was a first-time All-Star. But not for long. "I was grinning. You can't not grin unless you're Albert Pujols and you do it every year," Wainwright said. "I knew I had to pitch, but I think it's all right to be excited about it."...

KELSO, Mo. -- Lori Michelle Bles and David Earl Blechle were married July 4, 2009, at St. Augustine Church in Kelso. The Rev. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Organist was Betty Ressel, and vocalists were Renee Reinagel and Walt Seyer, all of Kelso...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chelsey Nicole Scheeter and Christopher Lee Hanback exchanged vows Feb. 13, 2010, at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran, Mo. The Rev. Randy Tochtrop performed the ceremony. Reader was John Scheeter, uncle of the bride. Organist was Betty Vandeven and vocalists were Renee and Holly Reinagel...

Mark and Kathy Langenfeld of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Lisa Melanie Langenfeld, to Darris Richard Gerlach. He is the son of Darris and Tina Gerlach of Cape Girardeau. Langenfeld is a 2006 graduate of Central High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Truman State University in 2010, and expects to receive a master's degree in chemistry from Truman in December. She will begin student teaching this fall in Rolla, Mo...

Mark and Debbie Mehner of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Katie Elizabeth Mehner, to Mark William Thenhaus, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Carl and Maureen Thenhaus of St. Louis. Mehner is a graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School. She expects to receive a doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in December. She is employed at Express Scripts in St. Louis...

Steve and Carol Horst of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Anne Horst, to Nicholas Robert Renz. He is the son of Robert and Susan Renz of St. Louis. Horst is a 1999 graduate of Jackson High School. She received bachelor of science and medical degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a resident physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis...

Edward and Susan Rohde of St. Louis announce the engagement of their daughter, Elaine Rohde, to Christopher Pobst. He is the son of Mark and Becky Pobst of Cape Girardeau. Rohde is a 2002 graduate of Mount Vernon Township High School in Mount Vernon, Ill. She is a 2006 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is owner of Elaine Rohde Photography...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Frank L. and Donna K. Bollinger of Sedgewickville announce the engagement of their daughter, Mariah Kay Bollinger, to Shannon Leigh Bomar, both of Jackson. He is the son of Gary L. and D. Jeanine Bomar of Jackson. Bollinger is a graduate of Meadow Heights High School. She is employed at Procter & Gamble...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Victor and Rita Becker of Marble Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Christine Becker, to Brandon Lynn Boyd. He is the son of Jim and Robin Boyd of Sedgewickville, Mo. Becker is a 1995 graduate of Woodland High School. She attended Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash., and Southeast Missouri State University. She is a medical assistant at Women First in Cape Girardeau...

Elden and Kim Wilson of Oak Ridge announce the engagement of their daughter, Kimberly Nicole Wilson, to Andrew James Martin. He is the son of Sheila Martin of Jackson. Wilson is employed by Dr. Robert L. Ward in Cape Girardeau. Martin is employed by Northrop Grumman in Knob Noster, Mo...

July 5-9 MONDAY--Chicken strips, potatoes, strawberry jello. TUESDAY--BLT sandwich, pickle, apple crisp. WEDNESDAY--Cheese quesadillas, corn, mixed fruit. THURSDAY--Spaghetti, green beans, peaches. FRIDAY--Corn dog, oven fries, mixed fruit...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. ...

By LSchutte Submitted to semissourian.com Court Appointed Special Advocates will be holding informational meetings twice a month for prospective CASA volunteers. A CASA volunteer has to complete 30 hours of special training and background screenings before they are sworn in as a volunteer child advocate...

This column originally appeared as a Discover Nature blog on semissourian.com/blogs. The large carpenter bee rolled around inside a purple poppy mallow flower with intensity as I watched it outside my office. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him roll and turn and roll again, as he loosened the flower's pollen and bathed in it...

AFTER a day of working hard in the yard, we loaded our truck to take our trimmings to the dump. Upon arrival, we were told we would have to pay a city fine of $25 because we had failed to put a tarp over our load. We had never heard of this new law, which we were told went into effect in September. ...

Carol Guard of Cape Girardeau is no amateur when it comes to wine tasting. Although neither Guard nor her husband had a hobby of visiting wineries before they married, they now make sure to include it in their list of things to do. Guard's interest in wineries started after marrying her husband, Perry Guard, eight years ago. ...

Scott Tucker, a native of McClure, Ill., flew home recently from California with a special carry-on -- an Emmy statuette. Susan McClanahan, friend of Tucker for more than 40 years and a columnist for the Southeast Missourian, said she found out about his award through a text message...

For this great nation, and for all of its citizens, we pray to you, O God. Amen.

George Hutchings, a retired minister, is a "miracle worker" who changes shoes to water. He collects shoes, sells them and uses the money to buy hydraulic drilling rigs and ships them to Kenya where a charitable group hires Kenyans to drill for clean water. ...

Procter & Gamble donated $45,000 to Melaina's Magical Playland, a playground with equipment for children with disabilities so that they may enjoy and play outside with other children. Melaina's Magical Playland was inspired by Melaina Cunningham, who passed away in March 2009. With this donation, the project has raised $350,000 of the $750,000 needed for the park, planned for Cape County Park North. From left are Linda Greaser, Rep. Scott Lipke, Andrea Cunningham and Regina McElmurry...

Romie is a 4-year-old cat. He is friendly and enjoys being petted. Romie is neutered and up-to-date on shots. For more information, contact Safe Harbor at 243-9823. ...

Army National Guard Pvt. Jeffrey B. Mungle has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo. During the nine weeks of training, Mungle received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship qualification, bayonet combat, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, marches, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions and core values. ...

Sparkles is a 5-month-old female German Shepherd. She is a happy puppy. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

The Rev. Dr. William Bird Sr. felt the call to be a pastor at a young age and set about earning several degrees that would help him better serve his parish. Bird has been a pastor for 29 years, 16 of them at Greater Dimensions Ministries in Cape Girardeau. He said his church is a melting pot...

PCI Roads LLC plans to begin striping on the Mississippi River bridge on Highway 51 in Perry County. Weather permitting, the work is scheduled to take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning Monday and is expected to be completed by July 30. There will be a 10-foot width restriction during the striping operation...

Work to replace the Route PP bridge west of Goose Pond Ditch in Stoddard County will begin July 12. The work was originally set to start in spring of 2011 but was moved up because of safety concerns, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. The bridge will be closed to traffic and will be replaced with a precast box culvert. The road closure will be in place for about one week...

Route B from County Road 419 to County Road 422 in Cape Girardeau County will be closed while Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a drainage pipe beneath the roadway. Weather permitting, the work will be performed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday...

Highway 25 County Road 325 to Route K in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be performed from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday...

Work to replace the Route ZZ bridge over Drainage Ditch No. 2 in Scott County is scheduled to begin July 12. During construction, the roadway will remain closed from Route Z to Route BB. Completion is anticipated in mid-September. The work is part of the design-build portion of the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program. Through the program, more than 800 of the state's lowest-rated bridges will be improved by winter 2013...

During a Thursday meeting, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission rejected a contract for improvements to Highway 91 in Bollinger County. The commission received one bid for the project, and it was higher than anticipated, according to a release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Project bids will be taken again later. The project will include replacing the rails of the bridge over Dry Creek south of Highway 51 near Dongola...

Lillian H. Reisenbichler, 95, formerly of Pocahontas, passed away Thursday, July 1, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 3, 1914, in New Wells, Mo., daughter of Theodore and Anna Fiedler Wachter. She and Elmer Reisenbichler were married May 23, 1943. He passed away Dec. 30, 2003...

Geraldine Young Love passed away to eternal life Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Geraldine was born in Belzoni, Miss., on March 16, 1927, to Joe and Bertha Young. She married Henry Love on Aug. 17, 1946. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and three children, Henry Edward Love, Jennifer Elaine Lyons and Gail Annette Edwards...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- John Luttrell, 46, of Marble Hill died Friday, July 2, 2010, at his home. He was born Nov. 15, 1963, in East St. Louis, Ill., son of James and Bonnie Sue Schmidt Luttrell. John loved to fish, and he loved sports. Survivors include his mother, Bonnie Luttrell of Marble Hill; five brothers, Kenny (Denise) Luttrell of Jackson, Kevin (Stephanie) Luttrell of Marble Hill, Ronnie (Renee) Luttrell of Cape Girardeau, Eric (Leslie) Luttrell of Chaffee, Mo., Doug Luttrell of Marble Hill; a sister, Joyce (Tom) Innskeep of Marble Hill; 13 nieces and nephews; two great-nieces; and a special family friend, Greg McAllister.. ...

Stella B. Adams McKee, 92, of Cape Girardeau left this world after an extended illness to be with Jesus in her heavenly home on Friday, July 2, 2010, at Monticello House. She was born Jan. 6, 1918, at Millersville daughter of Henry Zach and Zettie Estelle Hahs. ...

Roger Lee Walker, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, July 3, 2010, at his home. He was born Sept. 20, 1933, at Collinsville, Texas, to James Bryan and Mae Graham Walker. He and Reba Barker were married March 15, 1958, at Colorado Springs, Colo. For more than 40 years he was a sheet metal mechanic and member and past president of Local 268 in Caseyville, Ill...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Jeserick Lowell Pilgram, 19, of Mounds died Thursday, July 1, 2010, in Cairo, Ill. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. John M.B. Church in Mounds. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Garlin White officiating. Burial will be in the Spencer Heights Memorial Park in Mounds. Massie Funeral Home in Mounds is in charge of the arrangements...

With the holiday coming on a week day, Cape Girardeau police report few incidents; officers do break up two disputes. Cmdr. Earl F. Lewis, who was held captive by North Vietnamese for more than five years during the Vietnam War, has retired from the Navy...

On this Independence Day, it is important for us to realize the price of our freedom. I think most, if not all, of us realize freedom isn't free. A dear price has been paid for our freedom. As chaplain at the Missouri Veterans Home, it is my privilege to serve those who have helped pay the price for our freedom. Thanks to one of them, Robert "Bob" Bunn, I want to share some facts and a special letter he gave me to help us appreciate our freedom more...

While there are many Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Cape Girardeau County, only one is known to be a veteran of the Valley Forge encampment. Ron Beasley said his ancestor, Thomas English, served with George Washington near Philadelphia, before moving to Missouri after the war. A veteran of many Revolutionary War battles, English was wounded at Eutaw Springs, S.C., shortly before the war's end...

DEXTER, Mo. -- One man died in a fire that was called into the Dexter Fire Deptartment just before 7 a.m. Friday, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. An RV parked at Gaslight Village Trailer Park just off Outer Road North on County Road 405 was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:51 a.m...

Sara E. Hooper and L. Chris Snider exchanged wedding vows March 27, 2010, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, Mo. The Rev. M. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Organist was Betty Ressel of Scott City. Vocalists were Bill LeGrand of Scott City, Abby and Megan Moore of Cape Girardeau...

This insect is an elephant stag beetle. The stag part of its name is derived from the large mandibles at the front of the beetle, which mimic male stag deer antlers. The elephant part refers to the fact that other stag beetles exist, but this species is the largest...

Ten years ago I was sitting in a dark room with a cardiologist when he said "You have viral cardiomyopathy." That sounded like a foreign language. Being somewhat astute, I knew viral had something to do with a virus and cardio had to do with my heart. Beyond that I didn't know...

New McKendree Church will be holding its " Galactic Blast" vacation Bible school from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday at the South Campus launch pad in Jackson. A light meal will be served daily at 5:30 p.m. The vacation Bible school is open to the community for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ...

We've all heard the advice. "Take one day at a time." That's great counsel if you can recognize and implement its actual meaning. As I attempted to live one day at a time, I scrutinized that guidance and learned that it's much easier to say the words than to genuinely perform the action. What are the connotations and ramifications of truly taking one day at a time?...

Dortha's Day Camp for Clover Kids was held at the Cape County Park on June 6. This years theme for Camp was "Pirates of Cape County Park North." The camp began with the opening ceremony's of pledges, and songs. Campers made parrots and treasure chests for crafts. For gardening, they got to plant money tree plants and did a pirate word search game...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Even though no single day records were set, last month marked the hottest June in Poplar Bluff, breaking a 1952 record, the Daily American Republic newspaper reported. It also was the third driest. "The average June temperature at the airport was 82.4 degrees, which is 6.4 degrees above normal," said Mike York, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky. "The hottest and driest location in the Paducah NWS forecast area was the Poplar Bluff area."...

The fourth inning was all the Plaza Tire Capahas needed Saturday. The Capahas' offense pushed across eight runs and the pitching and defense made it stand up in the Capahas' opening game at the Valmeyer, Ill., tournament. The Capahas knocked off the St. Louis Golden Spikes for the third time this season, this one an 8-3 decision. The Capahas won the season series 3-2...

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter got clobbered. The St. Louis Cardinals' defense took a beating, too. Rickie Weeks hit a leadoff homer to begin Carpenter's miserable outing, and the Milwaukee Brewers capitalized on perhaps the Cardinals' shakiest defensive inning of the season in a 12-5 victory Saturday night...

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Ludwick thought he was close to playing. Now it'll be after the All-Star break before he's back in the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup. Ludwick, whose .446 average with runners in scoring position leads the National League, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a strained left calf. The Cardinals recalled outfielder Jon Jay from Class AAA Memphis to fill the roster spot...

A look at the area action on the baseball diamond.

Pet name: Chuy Owner: Kathy Reeves Favorite activity: Modeling his new coat. ...