Stories from Thursday, June 7, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) -- A 200-point charge turned the Dow Jones industrial average positive for the year following a dismal stretch in May. The Dow surged 235 points to 12,363 less than an hour before the closing bell. The last time the Dow gained more than 200 points was March 13...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The mood was somber Tuesday night along the railroad tracks at the Wilcox Road crossing north of Poplar Bluff as about 125 people lit candles and remembered two teenagers killed earlier in the day when their sport-utility vehicle was struck by a train...

Scott City's Shae Simmons and Advance's Trenton Moses were selected during Wednesday's final day of the 40-round major league amateur draft.

DIEHLSTADT, Mo. -- A big effort was underway Wednesday to clean up damage Monday night's fatal storm left in the small southeastern Scott County town of Diehlstadt. By the end of Tuesday, a pile of fallen trees, limbs and other debris had formed. Several dump trucks hauled it away Wednesday, making a significant dent in clean up efforts, said Tom Beardslee, Scott County emergency management director...

Capaha Park and the Cape LaCroix Recreational Trail are two of the most popular spots in Cape Girardeau, enjoyed by thousands of outdoor enthusiasts each year, Troy Vaughn says. That's why the chairman of the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board says that planned upgrades in the works for each facility need to be done right...

Peyton Redinger & Ricki Vaughan ran 2 miles for National Running Day. Taylor Vaughan ran with them & Eric (Red) Redinger took the picture.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The 55-year-old Marble Hill man who killed himself in the Bollinger County Jail early Tuesday morning had recently returned from a hospital after a failed suicide attempt, his attorney said Wednesday. Cape Girardeau lawyer Pat McMenamin said he was shocked that Charles Daniel Hovis was not under a suicide watch. McMenamin was representing Hovis on criminal charges...

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band kicked off its 112th regular season Wednesday night with a concert at the Capaha Park band shell.

Emily cut her "locks of love" to donate to Locks of Love in memory of her brother, Jacob Boyd.

Emily cut her "locks of love" to donate to Locks of Love in memory of her brother, Jacob Boyd. Picture of Jacob is from a Target calendar page. P.S. This is the 2nd of pics I sent for this story. Please use the one showing Jacob, if you can. Thanks...

For the past three weeks, several area schools and many classrooms at Southeast Missouri State University have played host to visitors from a faraway place. Four college students from Ukraine -- Kseniia Dabizha, Olena Melnyk, Tetyana Kucher and Tetiana Bondarenko -- said they've never visited a place like Cape Girardeau. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Tent. Sleeping bag. Backpack. Computer? Eleven Missouri state parks are now offering free wireless Internet access at campgrounds. And more could come online this summer. State Parks Director Bill Bryan says parks have long been great places to get away from a hectic schedule, but campers also have been asking to stay connected to the online world...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston City Council has picked what appears to be the lesser of two evils: accepting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's new flood plain maps. Council members approved an amended version of a bill accepting the maps during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday...

A Friday house fire in Cape Girardeau County caused extensive damage, with the total loss valued at $1 million, State Fire Marshal Greg Carrell said Wednesday. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a call Friday morning, reporting a house fire off County Road 206 in Cape Girardeau County...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The new head of the local Missouri Department of Natural Resources regional office is someone familiar to Southeast Missouri as he has spent much of his nearly 23-year career with the agency here. Jackson Bostic, who took over May 1, replaces Gary Gaines, who retired in February, the Daily American Republic reported. ...

Today is Thursday, June 7, the 159th day of 2012. There are 207 days left in the year. Today's Highlights in History: On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy, a "Creole of color," was arrested and fined for refusing to leave a whites-only car of the East Louisiana Railroad; his case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which at the time upheld "separate but equal" racial segregation, a concept overturned in 1954 by Brown v. Board of Education...

As our country approaches a new election this year, there are two issues that we have to come to grips with. No. 1, we have to quit spending more money then our government has. We have to reduce our debt. No. 2, and more importantly, we have to come back to God. ...

There are plenty of things outdoors to do this time of year, including several musical events. Here are a few worth checking out in the days and weeks ahead. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy some fun open air performances. For more information about these concerts and other local events, check out www.semoevents.com...

May you, Lord Jesus Christ, dwell in our hearts through faith. Amen.

Vincent Bertrand was ordained a priest yesterday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, Bishop John J. Leibrecht conducting the service. The first in a series of community worship services is held in the evening at the band shell in Capaha Park; the United Methodist Churches of Cape Girardeau are in charge...

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

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

Freda Jean Whiteside, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born Jan. 24, 1935, near East Prairie, Mo., to Raymond and Mildred Mayberry Dick. She and J.F. Whiteside were married March 1, 1958, at Charleston, Mo...

Patricia Anne Schlosser, 78, of Scott City died Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Lillian E. Pohlman, 86, of Oak Ridge died Monday, June 4, 2012, at Independence Care Center of Perry County in Perryville, Mo. She was born Oct. 11, 1925, in Perry County, daughter of William and Esther Dede Aurich. She and Delmar F. Pohlman were married Jan. 6, 1946. He preceded her in death March 29, 2009...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Everett Emro Farmer, 93, of Kennett departed this life Saturday, June 2, 2012. He was born Jan. 16, 1919, in Charleston, Mo., son of Jerry C. and Ada Baker Farmer. He and Lois Gladish were married June 12, 1946, in Cape Girardeau...

Scholarships honors, achievements -- From staff reports Neil Kanneberg...

Use the sun and a few materials from around the house to help you cook your next meal. STEP 2: Carefully fold the flap back along the uncut edge to form a crease. STEP 3: Use the tape to secure a piece of aluminum foil to the inside of the cardboard flap...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri's economy remained relatively flat last year, lagging behind the growth that occurred in much of the rest of the nation, according to figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. When adjusted for inflation, Missouri's economy in 2011 grew 0.04 percent compared with a national average of 1.5 percent. ...

LAGOS, Nigeria -- A Nigerian airline whose airplane crashed in the country's largest city, killing 153 on board and more on the ground, defended itself Wednesday against growing public criticism, saying its own chief engineer died on the doomed flight...

CAIRO -- Hosni Mubarak's health sharply deteriorated Wednesday, days after he was sentenced to life in prison, and specialists were evaluating whether to transfer him to a better-equipped hospital outside the penal system, security officials said...

PYONGYANG, North Korea -- North Korea's young leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday made his second speech at a major public event since taking power in December, addressing a children's rally aimed at winning a new generation's support. About 20,000 young people gathered at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Stadium for a speech that capped an unprecedented six-day children's festival. ...

FRIDAY n Rock in Rock Garden @Jackson City Park Rock Garden, Jackson, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY Sunday NEXT WEEK "Rock of Ages," rated PG-13 @ Cape West 14 Cine starts midnight June 14 "That's My Boy," rated R @ Cape West 14 Cine starts midnight June 14...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy grew moderately in most regions of the country this spring and companies kept hiring, according to a Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday. The mostly upbeat survey offered a hopeful sign after last week's more dismal data on hiring and manufacturing. Those reports sketched a picture of an economy that is slumping after a promising winter...

HAVERHILL, Mass. -- A Massachusetts teenager was sentenced Wednesday to spend a year in jail for a fatal traffic accident that happened while he was texting. Aaron Deveau of Haverhill was sentenced to 2 1/2 years behind bars with a year to serve and the remainder suspended for the February 2011 crash that took the life of Donald Bowley Jr., 55, of Danville, N.H., and seriously injured Bowley's girlfriend...

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- A jury dominated by people with Penn State loyalties was selected Wednesday to decide Jerry Sandusky's fate in the child sexual abuse scandal that rocked the university and led to football coach Joe Paterno's downfall. The seven women and five men who will hear opening statements Monday include an engineering administrative assistant at Penn State, a dance teacher in the continuing education program and a professor who has been on the faculty for 24 years...

DETROIT -- At 118 miles per gallon, the Honda Fit electric vehicle is the most fuel-efficient in the United States. But getting that mileage isn't cheap -- and it isn't always good for the environment. Honda announced the figure Wednesday, making the small, four-door hatchback more efficient than electric rivals like the Ford Focus, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It goes on the market this summer in Oregon and California...

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is accepting nominations for the Veterans Service Award. The deadline to submit nominations is June 30. This award recognizes Missouri veterans who provide volunteer service to their communities. Nominees are required to have served or be currently serving in any branch of the U.S. ...

Jesse Schott has been on a home-run binge for the Ford & Sons Cape Girardeau Senior American Legion Post 63 baseball team. None of Schott's four homers so far this season was more important than Wednesday's at rival Jackson Post 158 in the first game of a doubleheader...

Justin Halter defeated John Austin Palmer in a putt-off to win the boys 14 to 19 nine holes division at the Gateway Junior PGA Series tournament at Kennett Country Club. Halter and Palmer both carded 59s. Amy Blattel defeated Adele Soutar in a putt-off to win the girls 14 to 19 nine holes division...

HOUSTON -- Allen Craig and Daniel Descalso homered to back Adam Wainwright, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Wednesday night. Descalso's homer came during a three-run first inning, and Craig connected in the third to make it 4-1. Craig also had an RBI single in the first...

Dear Editor, At the last Pachyderm meeting May 17, when commissioner candidate Jay Purcell was allowed the opportunity to present his candidacy, he truly showed his colors. Instead of showing his appreciation to the Pachyderms for the invitation, he came right out of the box combative and adversarial. ...

The Plaza Tire Capahas suffered their first loss of the season Wednesday night in their road opener. The St. Louis Golden Spikes hammered out 17 hits and took advantage of five errors to rout the Capahas 14-4. The game was stopped after 6 1/2 innings by the 10-run rule...

SAINTE-MARIE-DU-MONT, France -- With World War II-era military planes darting overhead and Normandy's Utah Beach visible in the distance, a bronze statue emerged from beneath a camouflage parachute, in tribute to a man whose quiet leadership was chronicled in the book and television series "Band of Brothers."...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Highway 77 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane between Route W and Route A today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make shoulder repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $525,000 contract Wednesday to Collins & Hermann Inc. of St. Louis for improvements to various roadways throughout Southeast Missouri. The project includes on-call guard cable and guardrail repair on U.S. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $1,067,054 contract Wednesday to Magruder Construction Co. Inc. of Eolia, Mo., to replace two bridges on U.S. 67 in Butler County. The bridges are north of Route MM near Neelyville, Mo., two miles south of the four-laning project that will be underway on U.S. ...

LOS ANGELES -- Ray Bradbury imagined the future, and didn't always like what he saw. In his books, the science fiction-fantasy master conjured a dark, depressing future where the government used fire departments to burn books in order to hold its people in ignorance and where racial hatred was so pervasive that some people left Earth for other planets...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A woman now faces charges in connection with a shooting which left one person injured. Fonda Baxter, 31, of Steele, Mo., is charged with hindering prosecution and endangering the welfare of a child for her role following an April 9 shooting in Holland, Mo...