Stories from Tuesday, March 22, 2011

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Missouri will have access to $26.9 million in State Small Business Credit Initiative funds, money that Gov. Jay Nixon says will help spur small business growth and create jobs. The U.S. Treasury Department and Nixon announced the approval of Missouri's application for the loan program on Tuesday...

An organ recital featuring Southeast Missouri State University faculty member Gary Miller that was originally scheduled for tonight has been postponed. Southeast spokeswoman Ann Hayes said the recital, which was to take place at Old St. Vincent's Church, is postponed indefinitely...

ATHENS, OHIO -- After a week of pain, sleepless nights and dread at the thought of the next feeding, new mother Paula Linscott was on the brink of giving up her attempts to nurse. "It took like a month or two before it stopped hurting," said the Ph.D. candidate at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. "I thought it was just going to be fine, like it was this natural thing you do."...

The Jackson Board of Alderman voted down a resolution Monday that would have annexed Class Act Family Fitness into city limits. Board members and city staff were concerned the property at 2336 South Old Orchard Road isn't compliant with Jackson building codes and raised even more questions about the facility's drinking water...

Jamie Scholz says the Scott City High School baseball team has a never-say-die attitude. "We always battle. That's how our team is," said Scholz, a senior. "We'll never give up." That trait served the Rams well Monday afternoon as they rallied from a five-run deficit to beat visiting Jackson 8-7 in the season opener for both squads...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Archdiocese of St. Louis has taken the unusual step of reaching out to potential victims of an allegedly sexually abusive priest who has been dead for nearly a half-century. The Rev. John Wieberg was 32 when he was ordained in 1918 and served as pastor at parishes in Advance, Charleston and Arcadia in southern Missouri, and Josephville in St. Charles County, before retiring in 1961. He died in 1963...

The Midtown Family Medical Center, operated by the Cape Girardeau Craftsman Independent Union, can no longer serve the general public because it violates the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Curtis "Skip" Kelley, vice president of Craftsman International Union, Local No. ...

Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Kamp has decided there's enough evidence in a felony stealing case for a Jackson man to stand trial on allegations he embezzled more than $500,000 from a kickback scheme that investigators allege targeted his former employer...

The trial of a Cape Girardeau man set to begin March 29 was postponed Friday, after the man asked the presiding judge for time to hire a new lawyer. Allen R. Walker Jr., charged in August with child endangerment and second-degree murder, is accused of causing fatal injuries to his 7-week-old son, who died Aug. ...

Sam McVay spent the final hours of his life on an African beach, listening to the happy voices of children who had been rescued from slavery play in the sand around him. McVay, 68, died Sunday in Ghana, Africa, where he was taking part in a mission trip with is wife Linda. He called out for her and collapsed on the beach. An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death, said his son, Sam McVay Jr., a pastor in Eldorado, Kan...

The Cape County Tea Party invites the public to attend their "Program in the Park". The subject to be discussed is the proposed smoking ban in Cape Girardeau. Sheri House and Doc Cain will present opposing views on the ban to help voters decide on the issue...

Taken at the Memorial Park.

Missouri college students shouldered a significantly lower level of the cost of higher education compared to their peers nationwide during the worst of the recession, according to a recently released report. The State Higher Education Finance Report ranks Missouri 49th in the nation in the change in total higher education spending per student between 2005 and 2010. ...

It is the afternoon of June 19, 1996, and Deputy Richie Walker is on patrol. His eyes are darting as he cruises along State Highway 177 south of Egypt Mills, a small community in northern Cape Girardeau County. Walker is a cop on serious business. Walker is hunting a killer...

Noise disturbance complaints about bands playing too loudly in Cape Girardeau would be taken out of the municipal court system and remove the financial penalty for violations under a city proposal that would create special outdoor music permits. That's the direction the Cape Girardeau City Council appears to be headed in a move that members said Monday night could go a long way toward settling a downtown dispute between residents and Misty Thrower, the owner of the Bel Air Grill...

O Lord, may we always focus on what is good and noble. Amen.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A state inspector falsified a safety report and admitted he never tested a children's train ride that derailed over the weekend, killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring dozens of others, officials said Monday. Meanwhile, new details of the moments before the crash emerged, with witnesses saying it felt like the small train was increasing its speed just before it went off the tracks near a bridge...

HELENA, Mont. -- Twice a week, Myriam Garcia puts snow chains on her 22-year-old gas guzzler and noses two miles down the hill from her trailer in rural western Montana. Then, instead of turning south and driving the 45 miles to Helena for grocery shopping like she used to, she parks on the side of the road and waits for a friend or neighbor heading into town to give her a lift...

NEW YORK -- AT&T Inc. said Monday that if its deal to buy T-Mobile USA goes through, T-Mobile subscribers with "3G" phones will need to replace those to keep their wireless broadband service working. But there will be plenty of time to do that...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Merlin Russell Michaud, 79, of Perryville died Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The funeral was private at Young and Sons Funeral Home.

Samuel "Sam" McVay, 68, of Jackson died Sunday, March 20, 2011, in Ghana, Africa. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Tony La Russa and Jim Riggleman had to be separated when both benches cleared Monday during a testy spring training game between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals. The scuffle broke out after three batters were hit by pitches, but no punches were thrown and St. Louis reliever Miguel Batista was the only player ejected. The Nationals went on to a 7-2 victory...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Methamphetamine lab busts are running at a record pace in Kentucky, but a crucial supply of federal money that law enforcement agencies long counted on to clean up the hazardous drug-making operations has run dry. The recent cutoff of hundreds of thousands in federal money to help dispose of the potentially explosive materials has put Kentucky State Police in a financial pinch just when meth production is spiking...

ZWITINA, Libya -- Libya's rebels scrambled to try to exploit international strikes on Moammar Gadhafi's forces and go on the offensive, as some of the opposition's ragtag citizen-fighters charged ahead to fight troops besieging a rebel city Monday. But the rebellion's more organized military units were still not ready, and the opposition disarray underscored U.S. warnings that a long stalemate could emerge...

SANAA, Yemen -- Rival tanks deployed in the streets of Yemen's capital Monday after three senior army commanders defected to a movement calling for the ouster of the U.S.-backed president, radically depleting his support among the country's most powerful institutions...

WASHINGTON -- One year after President Barack Obama signed his historic health care overhaul, the law is taking root in the land. Whether it bears lasting fruit is still in question. The legislation established health insurance as a right and a responsibility. Thousands of families, businesses and seniors have benefited from its early provisions...

The past two weekends have been big for Southeast Missouri, with two area basketball programs winning state championships at Mizzou Arena. The Scott County Central boys basketball team won its third consecutive Class 1 championship Saturday with a 69-54 win over Dadeville. The title also marked the school's 15th championship in school history...

Proposition B is about much more than just protecting puppies. It's disturbing that Proposition B redefines the term "pet" as "any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof." This definition opens the door for radical animal rights groups to apply Prop B's harsh regulations to cattle, hog and chicken farming...

Terry Elton White, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 18, 2011, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Feb. 29, 1936, in Weston, Neb., to Donald E. and Lillian M. Kriz White. He and Vivian Opecko were married Aug. 11,1980, in Long Branch, N.J. Prior to his retirement he was vice president of Myron Green Cafeteria in Kansas City, Mo. He later was general manager with Saga, Marriott and with ServiceMaster...

Venkata Kishore Koka, 26, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at his home. He was born Jan. 5, 1985, in Chennai, India. He was a student at Southeast Missouri State University. At the request of the family, Venkata was returned to India...

Marti Sander Beasley, 50, of Cape Girardeau after a long and courageous fight took her final breath in this world Saturday, March 19, 2011, and took the hand of God peacefully to be in glory with him. She is now healed and at her heavenly home with her parents, Dave and Mildred...

SOMEONE wrote in to Speak Out suggesting that we cut our legislators' pay. At one time I don't think we paid [legislators] anything, and if we did it was just a little. People still took the job as their civil duty. IF our government is so great and President Obama is so great, then why in the world are our gas prices as high as they are? Surely they can find a way to lower these prices. ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- After downing Cheyney (Pa.) State Friday night 90-81 in the NCAA Division II national tournament, the Southeast Missouri State Indians fall to the Pioneers of Sacred Heart (Conn.) University 93-87 in the championship game...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Brenda Gail Bell, 54, of Chaffee died Sunday, March 20, 2011, at the family home. She was born Feb. 19, 1957, in Perryville, Mo., daughter of Otto Thomas and Verda LaVerne Sandlin Sutterer. She and Gary Lee Bell were married Aug. 15, 1986. He survives...

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

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Thefts Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday:...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- An 80-year-old man has died following a boating accident on the Mississippi River in Southeast Missouri. The accident happened Sunday night in Pemiscot County. The Missouri State Water Patrol says Edsel Brooks of Caruthersville was in a 14-foot jon boat when he and another occupant stood at the same time, causing the boat to capsize...

Public hearings Consent agenda New ordinances Other business...

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

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team has a final tuneup before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play. Saint Louis University visits Capaha Field today for a 5 p.m. first pitch, marking the fourth leg of Southeast's eight-game homestand that continues this weekend with a three-game OVC series against Morehead State...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's transportation director says the state is nearing a crisis in highway funding and may have to turn away federal dollars unless it comes up with more of its own money for roads. Department Director Kevin Keith told The Associated Press on Monday the agency now believes it must make about $300 million in cost cuts to free up enough state money to match federal highway dollars over the next five years. ...

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team failed to qualify its entire squad for NCAA regional competition but three Redhawks made the cut. Seniors Brianna Gaddie and Christina Sundgren and sophomore Taylor Westrick will represent the Redhawks at the South Central Regional in Norman, Okla., on April 2...

Warm spring weather means snakes are coming out to bask in the sunlight. Remember to "Look Up" as black rat snakes often climb trees and even walls! They are nonvenomous and eat lots of rodents so they are a "good" snake;) This 5' snake was in about a 10' high tree with skinny branches above the Crooked Creek on our property...

Walking in the General Watkins Conservation Area close to dusk

CHICAGO -- Just like new moms, new fathers can be depressed, and a study found a surprising number of sad dads spanked their 1-year-olds. About 40 percent of depressed fathers in a survey said they'd spanked children that age, versus just 13 percent of fathers who weren't depressed. Most dads also had had recent contact with their child's doctor -- a missed opportunity to get help, authors of the study said...

BOSTON -- A Texas construction worker badly disfigured in a power line accident two years ago has received the nation's first full face transplant at a Boston hospital. More than 30 doctors, nurses and other staff at Brigham and Women's Hospital led by plastic surgeon Dr. Bohdan Pomahac performed the 15-hour operation last week on 25-year-old Dallas Wiens of Fort Worth, Texas. He was listed in good condition at the hospital Monday...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- North- and southbound Highway 25 between U.S. 60 and Business U.S. 60 in Stoddard County will continue to be reduced to one lane this week, while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked. For additional information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Route N in Bollinger County will be closed today, while Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under the roadway. This section of road is between Route Spur N and County Road 414. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area. For additional information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

FUKUSHIMA, Japan -- Officials raced Monday to restore electricity to Japan's leaking nuclear plant, but getting the power flowing will hardly be the end of their battle: With its mangled machinery and partly melted reactor cores, bringing the complex under control is a monstrous job...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

Isaac J. "Ike" Renn, 67, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, March 20, 2011, at Heartland Care and Rehab. Graveside service will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Fairmount Cemetery, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The nuclear crisis is Japan, while severe, appears to be stabilizing and does not warrant any immediate changes in U.S. nuclear plants, a top U.S. nuclear official said Monday. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's executive director for operations, Bill Borchardt, said officials have "a high degree of confidence" that operations at the 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states are safe. ...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Cameras started rolling Monday on director Peter Jackson's production of "The Hobbit," following months of delays on the prequel to his Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Hollywood studio funding problems, a threatened actors' boycott and ulcer surgery for Jackson have plagued pre-production on the $500 million, two-movie project...

Saxony Lutheran High School Third Quarter Honor Roll with High Distinction 12th grade: Lucy Gage, Kristen Dippold, Gus Klaus, Alicia Petzoldt. 11th grade: Alicia Arnold, Sam Breite, Kaitlyn Harris, Nicole Hemmann, Elizabeth Koehler, Luke Mueller. 10th grade: Lauren Barr, Clayton Fritsche, AJ Garms, Rachael Gruenwald, Lauren Hecht, Carly Lorenz, Collin Sprandel, Zach Vogel, Kristy Winter...

Kelly High School Third Quarter A Honor Roll 12th grade: Jennifer Abate, Douglas Beggs, Taylor Beggs, Audrey Camren, Phillip Cook, Joshua Crowden, Brandon Dambach, Sawyer Elfrink, Erik Gambill, Haley Glastetter, Kaitlin Glastetter, Shawn Heuring, Brandi-Lynne Kern, Christopher Lovett, Jana Mosebach, Miranda Pemberton, Kristen Powell, Mistie Ray, Dylan Scherer, Harley Scherer, Brooke Seyer, Kevin Tew, Stacey Tucker, Kristen Vetter, Michael Webb...

Kelso C-7 School District 3rd Quarter A Honor Roll 2nd grade: Christopher Arnold, Carter Heuring, Alaney Moore, Allison Owens, Madison Owens, Ariel Pequeno, Kimberly Seabaugh, Daniel Smith, Cameron Westrich, Lauren Westrich, Wes Wilburn, Brittany Young...

Kelly Middle School 3rd Quarter A Honor Roll 6th grade: Brice Adams, Hannah Beard, Bryston Beggs, Meghan Foley, Anna Hughes, Austin Kerr, Kade Proctor, Melinda Scheffer, Maegan Walker 7th grade: Aaron Birk, Kelsey Buckner, Kama Collier, Allisyn Holifield, Amanda Hulshof, McKenzie Hutson, Carrie Keen, Drew Keen, Jacob McClain, McKynlee Neumeyer, Cassidy Stone, Abigail Sutton...

Trinity Lutheran School Third Quarter A Honor Roll 5th grade: Anna Al-Sayed, Ashlyn Bruce, Sam Hahs, Amanda Mabry, Luke Mayes, Masyn McWilliams, Abbie Reece, Corrie Reece, Nathan Ruark, Ireland Smith, Sofia Voss 6th grade: Andrew Aufdenberg, Nathan Aufdenberg, Emily Buerck, Benjamin Daniel, Natalie Grimm, Emily Killen, Hayden Moll, Katie Richmond, Elizabeth Ustinov, Emily Weber, Andrew Zieba...

NAME: Cal Wichern AGE: 62 PLACE OF BIRTH: St Louis SPOUSE, CHILDREN'S NAMES: Wife: Carol Wichern Son: Gordon Wichern Daughter: Elsbeth Wichern Leslie OCCUPATION: Retired Vocational Rehabilitation counselor and disability advocate EMPLOYER: By History: State of Colorado and self-employed...

NAME: Randy Morse AGE: 53 PLACE OF BIRTH: Peoria, Ill. SPOUSE, CHILDREN'S NAMES: Brenda Morse, married 35 years Angie Huckstep, (daughter) her husband and 3 children live in Scott City, she is completing an elementary education degree. Nathan Morse (son) married, youth pastor in Arkadelphia, Ark...

Cape Christian School Third quarter A Honor Roll 4th grade: A.J. Branson, Clayton Deimund, Colton Jones, Scott Limbaugh, Molly McNabb, Jordan Powell, Audrie Seabaugh. 5th grade: Andrea Diamond, Laura Harris, Courtney Penzel, Jade Samanta. 6th grade: Garrott Clark, Calli House, Bailey Janota, Rachael Koehler, Caitlyn Limbaugh, Katelyn Smith...

NAME: Tracey Hagan AGE: 32 PLACE OF BIRTH: Perryville, Mo. SPOUSE, CHILDREN'S NAMES: Spouse: Roy Hagan, Jr. Children: Riley (age 7), Tanner (age 4) OCCUPATION: Broker -- sales associate EMPLOYER: RE/MAX Realty Experts PREVIOUS OFFICES HELD OR SOUGHT:...

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team allowed season highs for runs and hits Tuesday as the Redhawks lost for the fourth time in five games. Saint Louis University scored five runs in both the third and fourth innings on its way to a 14-8 win at Capaha Field...

Scott City High School Third Quarter High Honor Roll 9th Grade: Rebecca Burger, Page Labrot, Aimee Lathum, Dustin McElhaney, Kaylyn Mosley. 10th Grade: Collin Bentley, Jessica Boswell, Julie Holder, Elaina Irvin, Brooke McCulley, Alexis Spriggs, Brianna Sykes, Tana Tetley...