Stories from Tuesday, August 23, 2011

NEW MADRID, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is overseeing cleanup of fuel and fertilizer after a crop duster airplane crashed upon takeoff in southeast Missouri. The pilot was not injured in the crash that happened Monday afternoon in New Madrid County. The plane is owned by Ag Air of Matthews, Mo...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A federal appeals court will hear arguments this fall on a lawsuit by Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder challenging the new federal health care law. Kinder filed suit as a private individual challenging the federal law on several points. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in April, ruling that Kinder did not have legal standing to bring many of the claims and that others were not ripe for judicial review...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Some Missouri lawmakers want to challenge the federal government before paying a portion of the damage costs from flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Typically, the federal government pays many of the immediate costs for disaster response and aid, then bills state and local government for 25 percent of the total...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A freshman Republican in the Missouri House is calling on Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to forgo his expected bid for governor because of acknowledgements that Kinder repeatedly visited a strip club in the mid-1990s. Rep. Kevin Elmer, of Nixa, distributed a public statement Tuesday saying Kinder's "irresponsible decisions in his personal life have impugned his ability to lead publicly from a principled position."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A teachers union and the sponsor of Missouri legislation that restricts how teachers can use social networking websites said Tuesday that they are working on possible changes to the soon-to-be-effective law. School districts will be required to establish policies by January that outline "appropriate use of electronic media such as text messaging and Internet sites for both instructional and personal purposes." Teachers will be barred from having "exclusive access" online with current students or former students who are minors. ...

A proposal before the Cape Girardeau School Board to hire a special consultant to help make construction decisions for the district was voted down 4-3 during Monday night's meeting.

An upcoming opportunity for the county to revise tax levy rates which fund several county boards has spurred discussion among its commissioners regarding the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities and its pending lawsuits with VIP Industries, as well as the board's accountability for expanding services...

The Central softball team defeated Perryville 6-0 in the season opener for both teams.

In her 32 years as an active drug user, Mary admits she's just about tried it all. From a side room at the Family Counseling Center, she rattles off a list of hard-core drugs that range from crack and meth to heroin and Ecstasy. But there was one that hit her harder than the others. Brought her life to ruin the fastest. Helped send her scurrying to rehab at age 50, swearing off drugs altogether...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An autopsy was to be performed Monday morning in Farmington, Mo., on the body of a Poplar Bluff man found floating in Black River by a fisherman. The body was identified as Jacky Green, 51, according to Poplar Bluff Police Lt. Dave Sutton...

A major stockholder of Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. is accusing Cape Girardeau officials of bowing to public pressure in their rejection of a company offer last week that would buy as much as another 150 days to find a new investor to take over and ramp up production.

My wife and I went to Roaring River State Park, southeast of Cassville, Mo. The fog was starting to rise, and I happened to glance to my right and saw the root of the tree angling out like a scene out of a scary movie.

Cape Girardeau will see more than $101 million in new construction projects this year with more than half that amount being its new casino project. Jackson also has a large project driving up its commercial construction values -- Nordenia's new production facility...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A former Dexter, Mo., man accused of breaking into a local home then raping a woman will not have his case heard in Stoddard County. Moses Grayson Jr., 33, is charged with rape, armed criminal action and first-degree burglary...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has called a special legislative session to begin Sept. 6 with an agenda topped by new incentives for some businesses. Nixon issued the special session proclamation late Monday afternoon. He set an agenda that calls for lawmakers to consider new tax incentives to attract international cargo shippers to the St. Louis airport...

A man accused of selling cocaine to a Cape Girardeau murder victim was scheduled to go to trial Monday in Mississippi County, but now will enter a plea instead. Armster Robinson III, 20, of Charleston, Mo., is charged with allegedly selling $50 worth of cocaine to Matthew "Woody" Ervin at a convenience store on Bloomfield Road on June 26, 2010...

LOS ANGELES -- Don't despair if you can't fit in the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise. Growing evidence suggests that even half that much can help. It's still no excuse to slack off. Regular exercise strengthens muscles, reduces the risk of some diseases and promotes mental well-being. The more exercise, the better...

We all realize that it is time for our country to make some tough decisions. However, we do not need to be cutting programs that our already fragile economy depends on. Investing in the conservation of our land, our water and our wildlife makes sense...

I want to commend all of the custodians and other staff members who have worked so hard to get our schools ready for the new school year. With the construction that has happened (especially at Alma Schrader, Jefferson and Clippard), the custodians have put in many extra hours to make our schools look great. Thank you for all your hard work...

O Heavenly Father, be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Amen.

Daughter to Andy Joseph and Billie Jo E. Sadler of Chaffee, Mo., Southeast Hospital, 2:14 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. Name, Scout Loretta. Weight, 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Sadler is the former Billie Jo Mohorc, daughter of Joseph Mohorc of Chaffee and the late Loretta Mohorc. She is a florist at J Marie's Flowers and Boutique. Sadler is the son of Ed and Tanya Sadler of Chaffee. He is a machine operator at Silgan Plastics...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Joseph Lynn Cureton, 29, of Marble Hill died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at his home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Wednesday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with burial in Old Union Church Cemetery near Bessville, Mo...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Terry J. Callier, 59, of Perryville died Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at his home. He was born June 8, 1952, in Perryville, son of Lee James and Velda Layton Callier. Callier was a leadman at Gilster-Mary Lee. He was of the Catholic faith...

Marie B. Hartwig, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, at The Lutheran Home. She was born Oct. 7, 1918, in Kelso, Mo., to Frank G. and Ortha Louise Heiserer Schafer. She and Clarence Fritz Meinz were married March 30, 1940. He preceded her in death on March 23, 1950. She then married Clarence Edgar Hartwig Jan. 23, 1962. He preceded her in death on Jan. 23, 1971...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Celina Rene Howard Payne, 33, of Advance passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at Southest Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 27, 1978, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Frankie and Janet Acord Howard. She and Jackie Payne were married Dec. 9, 2006...

James A. Campbell, 89, of Overland, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. He was the beloved husband of Mary Barenkamp Campbell; dear father and father-in-law of Nancy (Farris) Jackson and Robert (Tracy) Campbell; dear grandfather of Chris, Carolyn, Patricia, Andrew, Dylan and Emily; dear brother of Virginia Maule, Doris and Les Kobler and Margaret Eakes; our dear uncle, cousin and friend...

Lawrence L. Anderson, 81, of Jackson died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, at Monticello House. He was born Oct. 4, 1929, in Wellsville, Mo., to Marion Edward and Velma Hazel Buchanan Anderson. He was first married to Joan Merle Clark. She died in January 1974. He then married Roberta Lee Hanna on June 7, 1975...

Charles "Charlie" Camp, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born Sept. 12, 1933, in Sturdivant, Mo., to Hunter L. and Lucile Copman Camp. He and Wilma Mansker were married June 4, 1954, at Arbor, Mo...

NAGUA, Dominican Republic -- A rapidly strengthening Hurricane Irene cut a destructive path through the Caribbean on Monday, pounding Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with strong winds and rain as it followed a track that could carry it to the U.S. by the end of the week...

WASHINGTON -- Some were locals who've watched for years as the memorial to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. took shape on the National Mall. Some were tourists who happened to be in Washington the day it opened. All felt honored to be a part of history as they gazed at a towering granite sculpture of the civil rights leader...

Cape Girardeau firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Singer Sheryl Crow's vintage Mercedes-Benz convertible will bring valuable help to the Joplin school district. The 1959 car was auctioned on Sunday in Pebble Beach, Calif., to raise money to help the school district, which suffered serious damage in the May 22 tornado. The 190 SL Roadster went to the top bidder of $143,000, more than double its estimated value...

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

Sarah Oberts Evans, 55, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, at the Lutheran Home. She was born April 15, 1956, in Cairo, Ill., to Lawrence Harold and Myrtle Jane Foltz Oberts. Survivors include two sons, Christopher Barahona of Ocean-side, Calif., Jason Bridges of Missouri; a sister, Annie James Cooper of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, James Oberts of Jonesboro, Ill., Lloyd Oberts of Olive Branch, Ill.; several nieces and nephews...

WASHINGTON -- Another recession isn't likely over the next 12 months. Neither is any meaningful improvement in the economy. That's the picture that emerges from an Associated Press survey of leading economists who have grown more pessimistic in recent weeks. They say high unemployment and weak consumer spending will hold back the U.S. economy into 2012...

As the state's most senior narcotics investigator, Sgt. Kevin Glaser has seen a lot of changes in how law enforcement has battled against illegal drugs during his 28-year career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. For 22 years, Glaser has been on the front lines of that battle through his involvement with the SEMO Drug Task Force, an organization he has commanded for about 17 of those years...

The 2002 draft pick was with the team longer than any current player

The Dodgers scored two runs in the ninth inning and beat swooning St. Louis 2-1

All the local high school events reported Monday to the Southeast Missourian.

The Southeast Missouri State football team unofficially will begin the year ranked among the top 30 in both major Football Championship Subdivision preseason polls. Southeast did not make the top 25 in the FCS coaches poll released Monday. But the defending OVC champion Redhawks did garner the third-most votes among teams outside the top 25 to unofficially rank 28th. That's the same spot they occupy in the Sports Network/Fathead.com media poll released last week...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri chapter of the National Education Association will get a chance to talk with a representative for state Sen. Jane Cunningham seeking clarification of the controversial "Facebook Law." Missouri NEA President Chris Guinther says his organization will host a conference call Tuesday morning with Cunningham's chief of staff, Kit Crancer. Guinther said they want to discuss the possibilities of fixing the law during the special legislative session...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Centers that began opening nearly two decades ago to provide technology and education access to rural areas are closing or scaling back as the University of Missouri Extension cuts funding. The extension operated the nine Telecommunication Community Resource Centers with the help of community partners that included school districts and junior colleges...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A proposed settlement has been reached in a lawsuit by Missouri residents against LegalZoom Inc., the online vendor of legal forms and documents. Trial of the class-action lawsuit had been scheduled to start Monday in U.S. District Court in Jefferson City...

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was nowhere to be found Monday as his 42-year rule teetered on the brink of collapse. Months of NATO airstrikes have left his Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli largely demolished. Most of his security forces fled or surrendered when rebel forces rolled into the capital Sunday night and took control of most of the city. And three of his sons are under arrest...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 91 in Stoddard and Scott counties will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction Aug. 29 to Sept. 30 while contractor crews perform milling and asphalt paving. This section of road is from U.S. 61 in Scott County to Highway 25 in Stoddard County. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 91 in Stoddard and Scott counties will be reduced to one lane Aug. 28 to 30 while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge maintenance. The bridges are at various locations between U.S. 61 in Scott County and Route P in Stoddard County. ...

Farmers in Missouri and Illinois will be harvesting a record amount of soybeans this fall, according to agricultural statisticians in both states; however, this year's corn crop will be slightly lower because fewer acres were planted, and in this area, due to flash flooding in May and several weeks of drought in July and early August...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan has taken a leave of absence to tend to his ailing wife. The Cardinals said Jeanine Duncan underwent major surgery Sunday night and would require additional tests and rehabilitation. Duncan left the team Saturday in Chicago and son Shelley Duncan left the Cleveland Indians to be with his mother...

A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean nibbling on bland fare. With strategic substitutions and smart snacking tips, you can still enjoy some favorite foods without compromising your nutritional goals. "Eating healthy means enjoying a broad variety of foods and including carbs, protein and fat in your diet," says one of the country's most recognized sports dietitians, Leslie Bonci, who consults for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Milwaukee Brewers and the National Collegiate Athletic Association...

Think skipping breakfast will give you a head start on your busy day? Think again. You could be missing out on a string of health benefits, including an easy way to help manage your weight. After a night of rest, your body needs the energy boost from a well-rounded breakfast. Studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom with superior concentration and problem-solving skills -- just think about what it could do for you in the workplace...

TIRANA, Albania -- A U.S.-Albanian archaeological mission said Monday it has found the well-preserved wreck of a Roman cargo ship off Albania's coast, complete with some 300 wine jars -- all empty, alas. The 30-yard-long wreck dates to the first century B.C. and its cargo is believed to have been the produce of southern Albanian vineyards en route to western European markets, including France...

Two weeks ago Jane Randol Jackson, co-founder of the Red House Interpretive Center and former director of the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, passed away at her home in The Villages, Fla. Jackson -- the first woman to receive the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award -- was a strong advocate for preserving local history. ...