Stories from Sunday, January 2, 2011

Local businesses and cities looking to make an environmental New Year's resolution could qualify for grant funding from the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The planning commission has $70,000 available for projects that promote fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from diesel engines...

Otto Porter used his lean, always-moving arms to swipe an intended pass away on the defensive end. The 6-foot-9 Scott County Central standout didn't look for a guard to bring the ball up the court. He took off at full speed with the ball and attacked the basket...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has received a $300,000 gift from former governor Matt Blunt -- just in time for the new political year.

Two Cape Girardeau men face weapons charges after a car and building were struck by bullets Wednesday night on Sheridan Drive. Christopher M. Johnston, 25, and Terrelle D. Hobbs, 20, were both arrested Thursday by Cape Girardeau Police and charged with unlawful use of a weapon and being felons in possession of firearms. Hobbs was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance and Johnston was previously convicted of receiving stolen property, according to police reports...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Samuel Hughes had just seen Ryan Patterson, gun in hand, standing over a dying 15-year-old boy. Now, Hughes was sitting in a car with Patterson, who was pointing the silver revolver at him. "Loose lips sink ships," Patterson allegedly told him. "Tell anyone and I will kill you."...

Shaken residents spent New Year's Day sifting through the wreckage wrought by tornadoes that touched down in several states on the last day of 2010, killing seven people and injuring dozens of others. Six people -- three in Missouri and three in Arkansas -- died Friday as tornadoes fueled by unusually warm air pummeled the South and Midwest. ...

After a record-breaking cold December, we caught a break on New Year's Day when we went to Lake Worth Beach to catch the sunrise. It was spectacular. You can see more photos of the morning at http://www.capecentralhigh.com/florida/sunrise-on-lake-worth-beach/...

We spent Christmas in the smoky mountains where we were gifted with the most beautiful white Christmas! In this photo, our three-year-old son, Mark, peers out the window on Christmas morning with wonder and awe.

On Christmas Eve families of patients in the various intensive care units at Saint Francis Medical Center were treated to a bit of Christmas cheer. The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, along with volunteers who are staff members of the restaurant, brought and...

A Cape Girardeau County man was charged Saturday with property damage following a complaint from a homeowner in the Hillcrest subdivision on Route K outside Cape Girardeau. Darrel Nice, 49, who lives in the subdivision, was arrested following an investigation into allegations he painted the house with racial slurs, according to a news release issued Saturday by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. ...

A Gordonville teen has been arrested on suspicion of sodomizing a 7-year-old boy Friday. According to a news release from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, Benjamin Bartholomew Harrison II, 17, was charged Saturday with first-degree statutory sodomy, a felony. Harrison's bond was set at $50,000. He remains at the Cape Girardeau County Justice Center...

A teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of burglaries last week, Chaffee police chief Jim Chambers said in a new release Friday. Ricky B. Stephens, 17, of Chaffee, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree burglary and two counts of stealing...

The Northern cardinal is a beautiful red songbird native to most of the eastern half of the U.S. and much of Mexico and Central America. The male northern cardinal may be North America's most easily recognized songbird. Sporting a crest of red feathers and a black face mask around a prominent yellow/red beak, the male cardinal is a pleasant sight...

Volunteer to help others hangs among the top New Year's resolutions according to USA.gov. Southeast Missourians with this new pledge for 2011 will have ample opportunities. Organizations in the area consistently need volunteers to help with daily duties and special events...

A Southeast Missouri man is doing his best to spread awareness of mental illness. Thirty-seven-year-old Marvin Kirkland of Dexter, Mo., embarked on a cross-country walk recently from Oceanside, Calif., and he hopes to conclude it in June in Washington, D.C...

Recently the Rubbermaid company donated some Gatorade coolers to the City of Jackson once they became aware that the coolers currently the City of Jackson building were using were worn out. A Rubbermaid employee orginally made the suggestion to donate some coolers. City of Jackson representative Terry Venable is pictured accepting the Gatorade Coolers from Rubbermaid...

Pink Tree Raises Money for Breast Cancer Program Participants at the local Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society Alliance recently took time out of their day to decorate the Turning Point tree at the Southeast HealthPoint Fitness in Cape Girardeau. ...

Countless activities compete for time on the family calendar -- soccer practice, piano lessons, friends, school. With thoughtful planning, you can be sure that fun family time gets penciled in, too. Karen Deerwester, author of "The Entitlement-Free Child: Raising Confident and Responsible Kids in a 'Me, Mine, Now!' Culture," highlights the importance of scheduling family time...

Nicole Fadler and Nicholas Fenton were married Sept. 19, 2009, at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellisville, Mo. The Rev. Charles Spomer performed the ceremony. Music was by the Chesterfield Quartet. Readings were given by Angela Moore and Genevieve Batson of St. Louis...

Mallory Wilson and Ryan Gibson were married May 29, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Ron Watts performed the ceremony. Pianist was Chris Nall, and violinists were Liesl Schoenberger and Ron Brown, all of Cape Girardeau. Parents of the couple are Windall and Dee Dee Wilson of Cape Girardeau, and Rodney and Emily Gibson of Sikeston, Mo...

BENTON, Mo. -- Regina Rae Durham and Michael Brent Merrell were united in marriage in a private ceremony Dec. 10, 2010. The bride is the daughter of Charles and Brenda Durham of Elco, Ill. The groom is the son of Mike and Annie Merrell of Lewistown, Mo...

Mindy Lee Ruch and Justin Todd Petzoldt exchanged vows Aug. 21, 2010, at St. Maurus Catholic Church in Biehle, Mo. The Rev. Tony Dattilo performed the ceremony. Pam Horrell, aunt of the bride, provided music. Vocalists were Ashley Schott, cousin of the bride, and Shelly Meier...

KELSO, Mo. -- Frank and Margie Bucher of Kelso announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Lynn Bucher, to Ernesto Rey Segura, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Ernesto and Patricia Segura of Austin, Texas. Bucher is a graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. She received a master's degree in accountancy from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005. She is employed at Scottrade in St. Louis...

BENTON, Mo. -- Barry and Tina Greenlee of Dyersburg, Tenn., announce the engagement of their daughter, Sara Greenlee, to Zachary Hamm. He is the son of David and Niki Hamm of Benton. Greenlee received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Union University in Jackson, Tenn., in 2010. She is pursuing a master's degree in health science at Duke University in Durham, N.C...

Early Cape Girardeau baseball team, probably from the 1920s. Only the first player in the front row is identified. He is is Paul Finney, the son of Dr. John M. and Mary Finney, founder of Finney's Drug Store in Cape Girardeau. The photo is owned by Sue Vogelsanger, daughter of Paul Finney. Anyone with information about this photo may contact Sharon Sanders at ssanders@semissourian.com or call 388-3653...

Recently the SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing & Health Sciences department donated a skelton to the science classes at Delta R-V High School once they had acquired a new skeleton for instructional purposes. Representatives of SoutheastHEALTH recently presented the skeleton and shared information about their healthcare careers with students. ...

Sikeston, Mo., High School teacher Brandie Maddox and her students recently donated short- and long-term items for families with infants in Saint Francis Medical Center's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The gifts included toiletries, 20 handmade blankets, infant socks, snacks and other items useful to NICU families. ...

Holiday shoppers were spreading much Christmas cheer last week -- at least according to recent holiday sales figures. A recent report from the National Retail Federation projected a 3.3 percent increase in holiday sales this year. The organization also estimated that the average shopper planned to spend $689 on gifts this Christmas season and $107.50 on items for themselves...

David Limbaugh recently wrote that President Obama "laments that we are still a superpower." There's no other way to put it. That is a lie. What President Obama realizes and what Limbaugh and many others can't cope with is the fact that the day will come when the U.S. will be one among many superpowers...

By Chris Kelly Proposition B passed in the November election with a 51.6 percent vote. It amended Missouri law to require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles. ...

The 10th year of the 21st century certainly provided many storylines. Who would have expected on Jan. 1 a year ago that Cape Girardeau would be set to have a downtown casino? Who would've placed a wager that the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks would be OVC champs and be tied with the No. ...

O God, may our eyes not be haughty but full of love. Amen.

Harvey Benjamin Sanford, 86, of Cahokia, Ill., was born March 20, 1924, at Ancell, Mo., and died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at his residence. Mr. Sanford was retired from General Motors-Fisher Body in St. Louis. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia, and UAW Local 25 of St. Louis. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran...

Lyman E. Crites Jr., 84, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 16, 1926, in Parma, Mo., to Lyman E. and Valle Brown Crites Sr. He and Marlene Marberry were married March 6, 1970, at Crenshaw, Miss. They have been residents of Cape Girardeau for more than 20 years...

Charles "Mack" Baker, 55, of Jackson passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, at the Jefferson Barracks VA Hospice Facility in St. Louis after a long battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 23, 1955, in Jackson, son of John R. and Doris Peel Baker. He was an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army...

Doris B. Baker-Amos, age 87, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 26, 1923, in Jackson, daughter of Charles H. and Doris C. Blake Peel. She and John R. Baker were married Nov. 24, 1943. He passed away March 15, 1985. She and Max Amos were married June 12, 1997. He survives...

Betty Ann Housman, 54, of Cape Girardeau died at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at home. She was born Oct. 30, 1956, to Joel and Wilma Branch McCrary Sr. in Cardwell, Mo. Betty lived in Cape Girardeau most of her life and was self-employed. She will be greatly missed by family and friends...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Franklin Leonard Clay, 80, of Marble Hill passed away Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 17, 1930, in Hollister, Wis., son of Leonard Dee and Edith Mae Meeks Clay. He and Eathel Maurine Vaughn were married June 27, 1963. She passed away Nov. 6, 2006...

UNIONTOWN, Mo. -- Michael E. Frentzel, 62, of Uniontown died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 23, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Theodosius J. and Erna Meinz Frentzel. He and Lavern Weber were married Oct. 18, 1969...

Guy "Allen" Houston, 82, of Marble Hill, Mo., passed away Dec. 31, 2010, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 16, 1928, in Marble Hill, the son of Guy and Bertha Locke Houston. He married Shirley B. Moore on Sept. 27, 1954, in Perryville, Mo. She survives...

Dallas Ray Owens, 74, died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at his residence in the Eastside Hunting Lodge in Villa Ridge, Ill. Born April 27, 1936, at Malden, Mo., to the late A.E. and Pauline Qualls Owens, he was a member of the Coast Guard Reserve. He was owner and operator of the Dallas Owens farm and had farmed his entire life, first in Mississippi County, Mo., and then in Villa Ridge until his retirement. ...

Raymond L. "Ray" Sanders, 70, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at home with his loving family by his side. He was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Yarbro, Ark., to Doyle and Hollice Maxwell Sanders. He and Anna Bassett were married May 3, 1958, at Dexter, Mo...

Patricia A. Chitwood, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Fairmount Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Burial will follow in Fairmount Cemetery. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Dorothy Merriman Schaefer, 85, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at Jonesboro Rehab and Health Care Center. The funeral was held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro, with the Revs. Joe Aldridge and Todd Plunkett officiating. Burial was in Jonesboro Cemetery...

George Shelton, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at the Missouri Veterans Home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Debra Lynn Sides, 56, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at her home. She was born Dec. 27, 1954, in St. Louis, to Tom and Beverly Adler Klinkhardt. She and Donald Sides were married April 21, 1973, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau...

Douglas A. Gross, 29, formerly of Gordonville, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Arrangements are pending at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

ANNA, Ill. -- Fred L. Chamness, 74, of Davenport, Fla., formerly of Anna, passed away Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center in Haines City, Fla. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, Ill...

The Southeast Missourian has learned that Puxico, Mo., activist farmer Wayne Cryts has decided to seek the 8th District congressional seat now held by Cape Girardeau Republican Bill Emerson. Confusion over a boundary description in East Cape County Volunteer Fire District's plan to incorporate forces the district to withdraw its court petition seeking incorporation; the fire district's attorney will file another petition for incorporation within a week in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Lillian M. Becker, 94, of Cairo died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo. Visitation will be from 8 to service time Tuesday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge, Ill...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Several thousand children will become eligible for insurance coverage of their autism therapies as a Missouri law takes effect Saturday. For thousands of others, their parents will continue to have to pay out of pocket or simply forgo the costly treatments...

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will host Family Fun Night for families with children 5 years and older from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14. Wii and Xbox 360 game consoles and board games will be available for families. This event is free and open to the public...

The Cape Girardeau County Central Committee Democrats met Dec. 14, at Delmonico's Restaurant for their annual Christmas party. We enjoyed a great meal and the company of like-minded people. The guest, Major Ben Stillwell with the Salvation Army and his wife, Beth, received the wrapped Christmas gifts plus numerous stuffed animals and dolls for their Christmas toy recipients...

MONDAY--Krispy chicken fingers or ham & cheese on bun, broccoli & cheese, mixed fruit cup, sugar cookie with sprinkles. TUESDAY--Crispito with nacho cheese sauce or turkey & cheese on bun, corn, banana. WEDNESDAY--Breaded pork chop & brown gravy or turkey & cheese on bun, whipped potatoes & brown gravy, roll, cinnamon applesauce...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

It twists, it turns and you become confused. You never know where your chosen route will lead you. That's life. You think you've figured out which direction will take you where you want to go, but it doesn't. You start to turn but another obstacle gets in the way. ...

This is the time of year for resolutions, examining the life that you are living now compared to your ideal life and taking steps toward harmonizing the two. The majority of health clubs will be crowded, the shelves of the health food aisle will be close to empty and all of a sudden classic books will be checked out of the library. That is, unless failing to keep resolutions made in years past has made you so disillusioned that you refuse to create them this year...

SEATTLE -- Congratulations, you are the best of the worst. Sounds like quite the prize, huh? That'll be the honor bestowed upon either St. Louis or Seattle come tonight after the two meet to decide the NFC West division title, a primetime showcase of two teams fighting for one final playoff spot...

The Chaffee Red Devils emerged as the darlings of this season's Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament. Alex Crowe and Co. survived a couple of nail-biters, including one against archrival Scott City, to win on the fourth day of the tournament for the first time since 2000...

Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy and six other Cape Girardeau County officials elected in November were sworn in Thursday by County Clerk Kara Clark Summers. Tracy replaces Gerald Jones, who is retiring after 16 years of service. Tracy said he is excited to be taking office and working for the county. He said financial and real estate matters will most likely dominate his first weeks in office...

Pet name: Mickey Owners: Chris and Brandy Schaefer FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Hanging out in the bathroom sink. ...

JINAN, China -- Service with a smile also comes with an electronic voice at the Dalu Robot restaurant, where the hotpot meals are not as famous yet as the staff who never lose their patience and never take tips. The restaurant, which opened this month in Jinan in northern Shandong province, is touted as China's first robot hotpot eatery where robots resembling Star Wars droids circle the room carrying trays of food in a conveyor belt-like system...

Many people take time at New Year's to evaluate what they've done in the past year and plan out what they hope to do in the coming year. From health initiatives to a more positive outlook on life, new habits and goals abound. Starting today, the Southeast Missourian feature pages will help you plan for the new year. ...

Youth pastor Andrew Callis of the Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau said one of his main reasons for teaching is because students need counsel in today's world. He admits that creating ways to get them excited about their faith and convicted about their choices is sometimes strenuous, but he has been able to find ways to do so. Callis encourages his students to be active...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...