Stories from Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A trial date set for a former Cape Girardeau teacher charged with assaulting a student didn't change at after a Wednesday hearing. Roman D. Smith, former high school physics teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School, received a trial date at Wednesday's pretrial hearing at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson. ...

Make and model: 1987 chavy short bed Owner(s): Bobby Golden Owner's hometown: Marble Hill,mo this truck has a lot of work done 350 bored 30 over,posi-track My car's name: tire smoker saw this truck 2 years ago and bought it did a lot of work to it me and my brother roy...

The trial for a Cape Girardeau man accused of assault and armed criminal action in an incident in the Neelys Landing area is scheduled to begin today. Jimmy Ray Bell is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in an Aug. 28 shooting...

Southeast Missouri State University's board of regents will consider approval of a $98.3 million annual operating budget and a $36.8 million auxiliary budget today. The budget is based on an anticipated 8 percent cut to state appropriations for Southeast that prompted a tuition raise and the university's budget review committee to continue efforts to cut costs several years in a row...

A memo from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice's acting director to Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro nonsecurity staff indicates three state facilities in Southern Illinois will be closed by Gov. Pat Quinn on Aug. 31.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Bollinger County Sheriff Leo McElrath faces two challengers for the Republican nomination for sheriff in the August primary. The winner will then face a challenge from an independent candidate in November's general election...

Cape Girardeau officials are again looking at implementing a citywide rental inspection program, although this version would require landlords to obtain annual licenses and dictate that they maintain their properties -- inside and out -- in order to keep them...

Raises for teachers, although small, are becoming trends during the time school boards spend each summer analyzing annual budget proposals for upcoming school years in Cape Girardeau and Jackson public schools. Cape Girardeau's raises result from board approval to raise base salaries of teachers and administrators. On average, salaries will rise 2.66 percent in the next school year. District officials said the raises are needed so more staff can be transferred to a newer pay schedule...

On Tuesday, the American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Chapter recognized this year's community volunteers and partner organizations, and celebrated the lifesaving work done by the organization. The 95th annual meeting was held at the Cape Girardeau Public Library...

Brevin Giebler's skill and familiarity with Dalhousie Golf Club left the rest of the field chasing the Cape Girardeau golfer at the first round of the 105th Missouri Amateur. Giebler, a member of Dalhousie, posted a 3-under-par 69 and a two-shot lead on a hot and breezy Tuesday...

WYATT, Mo. -- Work has stopped on the frontline levee that protects the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway from the Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release Tuesday that work had stopped after a letter dated June 12 was received protesting the bid for repairs...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., June 20, 2012 -- Yaszmin Clemons, a resident of Charleston, MO, makes a 45-mile trek to and from Metro Business College on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau daily to attend classes toward completion of her certificate as an Administrative Assistant. ...

The trial for a Jackson man accused of stealing $500,000 from a Sikeston, Mo.-based company began Tuesday. Jason Mitchell was involved in a kickback scheme that led to the transfer of more than $500,000 to a fraudulent bank account from 2007 to 2010, prosecutors said...

If you love to play golf and you want to support Cape Central High School, plan to attend the 21st annual Cape Central High School All School Booster Club golf tournament. The tournament will be held on Friday, July 6th at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. Last year, the booster club provided over $35,000 in support of the school's various athletic teams, student organizations, athletic department, school library, CHS Hall of Fame, and academic scholarships...

This is a picture of kids and summer vacation bible school missionaries at McClure Baptist Church.

ape Girardeau has a history that trails behind it for centuries. Parks and landmarks make Cape Girardeau the town that is today. On July 4, the City of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department invites you to the Fourth at the Fort reenactment, to visit and relive the story of how historic Fort D protected Cape Girardeau during the Civil War...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will be holding the 25th Annual Capaha Classic 5K Run and Children's One-Mile Run on Saturday, July 14. The cost of the event will be $15 for those who register in advance. The fee to register the day of the race will be $20. ...

Cassie is a 1 year old lab mix. She LOVES the water! Cassie is available for adoption at The Humane Society 573-334-5837. See more pets available at www.semopets.org.

Come out to Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center in Cape Girardeau for the first ever Pirate and Mermaid Party on June 23, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Children age 8 and under can get their picture taken with Ariel the Mermaid and Blackbeard the Pirate. Crafts, games, the limbo, refreshments and more will be available...

Four Generations of Cathcart's Left to right Eric Cathcart (2) Colby Cathcart (3) holding Tayton Lee Cathcart (4) Don Cathcart (1)

Wyatt Durham caught this 15 pound catfish in our pond near Trail of Tears!!

Wyatt's on a roll!!! Not long after catching a 15 pound catfish Wyatt caught another, weighing in at 13 pounds!!! You can tell by the look on Wyatt's face in the picture the catfish was really heavy or he was very tired from catching all those huge catfish!!! We are not really sure witch...

Today is Wednesday, June 20, the 172nd day of 2012. There are 194 days left in the year. Summer arrives at 7:09 p.m. Eastern time. Today's Highlight in History: On June 20, 1782, Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle...

In today's world technology plays a major role. The use of smartphones, tablets, laptops and other computer devices can make work more efficient. Likewise, young people are increasingly becoming more tech-savy. So it's no surprise that some schools are implementing more technology in the delivery of education...

Michael Jenson had a good idea, but finding common ground or compromise is not going to be easy. Basically we have a battle between labor unions and multinational corporations which has evolved in a Democrat vs. Republican conflict. Labor unions are feeling the pressure since the Wisconsin governor severely curtailed collective bargaining and ended the automatic collection of union dues by the government resulting in a 50 percent loss of union members and a drop of unemployment to 6.7 percent vs. ...

O Lord God, thank you that you hear our every cry. Amen.

Candidates for local state House and Senate races will field questions Thursday night at a public forum hosted by the Southeast Missouri Pachyderm Club, including those from the House's 146th and 147th districts and the Senate's 27th. "This is an amazing opportunity for voters to come out and see these candidates speak for the first time," said Scott R. Clark, club vice president and program chair...

After a slow first night, Riverfest '87 finishes with a bang; officials say Friday night's attendance was around 12,000; 30,000 people pack Cape Girardeau's downtown streets today. The former Sunny Hill Motel, 45 S. West End Blvd., has undergone complete renovation and remodeling; it will open soon as the West End Park Inc. apartment complex, featuring a swimming pool, physical fitness center and other amenities...

Son to Adam Quentin and Jessica Ann Clymer of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., Southeast Hospital, 8:46 a.m. Monday, June 11, 2012. Name, Chase Ethan Adam. Weight, 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Clymer is the former Jessica Kuehnert, daughter of Mary Scronce of East Cape Girardeau. Clymer is the son of Mike Clymer and Sue Clymer of Scott City. He is employed at Havco Wood Products...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Firefighters responded to the following call Tuesday:...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday:...

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

JOPLIN, Mo. -- While thousands of volunteers have wielded hammers and heavy equipment to help Joplin physically recover from last year's tornado, another corps has quietly worked to assist residents struggling with the disaster's emotional toll...

NEW ORLEANS -- The Southern Baptist Convention voted Tuesday to elect its first African-American president in one of its biggest steps yet to reconcile the 167-year-old denomination's troubled racial past and appeal to a more diverse group of believers...

SHINER, Texas -- Hearing his 5-year-old daughter crying from behind a barn, a father ran and discovered the unthinkable: A man molesting her. The father pulled the man off his daughter, authorities say, and started pummeling him to death with his fists...

WASHINGTON -- A budget showdown for the ages could begin after this year's election and stretch well into 2013 -- despite the threat that an impending half-trillion-dollar avalanche of tax increases and spending cuts might rekindle a national recession...

WASHINGTON -- For the first time, the influx of Asians moving to the U.S. has surpassed that of Hispanics, reflecting a slowdown in illegal immigration while American employers increase their demand for high-skilled workers. An expansive study by the Pew Research Center details what it describes as "the rise of Asian-Americans," a highly diverse and fast-growing group making up roughly 5 percent of the U.S. ...

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's top court dismissed the prime minister for contempt Tuesday, ushering in a new round of political turmoil in a nation vital to American hopes of withdrawing from Afghanistan. The Supreme Court ruling was a major escalation in a long-running confrontation between the judges and the government, and appeared to be a knockout blow against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, effectively dismissing his Cabinet as well...

ST. LOUIS -- Biologists are tracking the Indiana bat at their summer locations through sites in Missouri and Illinois, hoping to gather information that will help numbers rebound for the endangered species. The bat hibernates in caves in the winter and summers in forested areas, most frequently in the central United States...

CAIRO, Ill. — Roberta J. Skaggs, 65, of Cairo died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Linda Marie Mittrucker, 50, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, June 17, 2012, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Sept. 26, 1961, in Quincy, Ill., to Oland and Mary Beth Brower Kraft. She and Jim Mittrucker were married Sept. 19, 1981, at St. Francis Church in Quincy...

CANTON, Ga. -- Larry W. Hunt, 60, of Canton died Thursday, June 14, 2012. He was born July 25, 1951, in Perryville, Mo., son of Leslie A. and Agnes Sutterer Hunt. He was the youngest of 12 siblings. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Patty Hunt of Canton; a daughter, Sarah Maness and husband Lee of Dallas; four sons, Jeffrey Hunt and wife Karyn of Dallas, Matthew Hunt and wife Elmira of Canton, Adam Hunt and wife Sandra of Marietta, Ga., Wesley Hunt of Canton; six grandchildren; five sisters; three brothers; several nieces and nephews.. ...

Karen L. Freeman, 62, of Gordonville died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

JONESBORO, Ill. — Jan Ferguson, 62, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at her daughter's home in Anna, Ill. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna, Ill.

CAIRO -- Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was on life support after suffering a stroke in prison Tuesday, deepening the country's uncertainty just as a fight opened over who will succeed him.

THEBES, Ill. — Donna R. Cohen, 64, of Thebes died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Jones Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill., is in charge of arrangements.

St. Louis lost 6-3 to drop to .500 on the season By NOAH TRISTER The Associated Press DETROIT -- Justin Verlander had struck out only two hitters all night, but with the tying run on base after another Detroit miscue in the field, the right-hander let loose a bit...

One of the biggest misconceptions about President Obama's health care overhaul isn't who the law will cover, but rather who it won't. If it survives Supreme Court scrutiny, the landmark overhaul will expand coverage to about 30 million uninsured people, according to government figures. ...

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria -- A radical Islamist sect unleashed multiple attacks in northeastern Nigeria, killing at least 25 people, authorities said Tuesday as fears swelled about the government's inability to corral rising sectarian violence. The attacks worsened an already tense security situation in Nigeria, a West African nation of more than 160 million people almost evenly divided between Muslims and Christians...

ATHENS, Greece -- A coalition government could be formed today in Greece, the head of the country's socialist party said Tuesday, easing the nation from political limbo as it struggles to deal with a financial crisis that has affected Europe's economy and markets around the world...

WASHINGTON -- Thousands of drones patrolling U.S. skies? Predictions that multitudes of unmanned aircraft could be flying here within a decade are raising the specter of a "surveillance society" in which no home or backyard would be off limits to prying eyes overhead. Law enforcement, oil companies, farmers, real estate agents and many others have seen the technology that was pioneered on battlefields, and they are eager to put it to use...

"God bless the USA." We are the nation that is land of the free, home of the brave, and yet we are a nation that is being told to honor a Christian God is politically incorrect. How is it that I must forgo my religious freedom so that someone else is not offended? There is a growing trend in America that should alarm us all; we have moved so far to the left we are balanced on the precipice of communism. ...

The construction of Julian Sellers' bungalow in St. Paul, Minn., was started in 1926 and finished in early 1927. The builder was a Swedish immigrant. The family who first lived there included a married couple, their 6-year-old daughter and the wife's mother...

WASHINGTON -- Tea party lawmakers from rural areas were among those fighting the hardest to preserve taxpayer subsidies for airline flights into and out of small towns last year after senior Republicans tried to eliminate the oft-criticized program. Now, the House Appropriations Committee is awarding the program an 11 percent budget increase...