Stories from Friday, January 4, 2013

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com ABOVE: Volunteer Charlie Wilson fills a feeder with a suet cake Thursday at the Conservation Nature Center in Cape Girardeau. ...

Jay Knudtson, banker and former mayor of Cape Girardeau, has been named to a six-year term on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. Knudtson, executive vice president at First Missouri State Bank, was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to fill the vacancy created by the departure of James Limbaugh, whose term expired Tuesday. ...

Police weren't releasing details late Thursday about a morning wreck that blocked traffic on Interstate 55 near the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Inquiries to Cape Girardeau police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol about the accident were directed to the Scott City Police Department, the agency that investigated the accident. ...

A Catholic priest who's been dead for decades has been accused of sexually abusing a child at a Southeast Missouri parish he served in the mid-1960s, the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has disclosed. The complaint against the Rev. Walter G. Craig is "credible," said spokeswoman Leslie Anne Eidson. But church leaders aren't willing, she said, to provide specifics out of respect for the victim's request for privacy...

Two adults and a juvenile who were taken into custody from a house surrounded by police Wednesday were charged with armed robbery Thursday, police said. Jessica D. Davis, 19, and Shalayla Q. Lowe, 18, of Cape Girardeau, were charged with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action, and both were being held on $100,000 cash-only bonds, said department spokesman Darin Hickey. A 16-year-old girl was turned over to juvenile authorities, Hickey said...

Police didn't have to wait five years to arrest Sean C. Williams this time. The 32-year-old St. Louis man was taken into custody in October on charges of first-degree robbery, despite the fact that the crime took place in a small, Cape Girardeau apartment five years before. A judge signed a warrant Wednesday on new charges accusing him of sexually abusing a 13-year-old Cape Girardeau girl last month...

Area business leaders will get information on the process to elect a successor to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson on Friday. Eddy Justice, chairman of the Republican 8th Congressional District Committee, will be the featured speaker at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee. The program begins at 7:40 a.m. Friday, with breakfast served at 7 a.m...

A project to improve a stretch of Highway 34 in Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties will be discussed Tuesday, Jan. 8, during a Missouri Department of Transportation public hearing in Burfordville. The cost of the project likely will exceed $6 million, and it will span more than 15 miles of Highway 34 -- from Hurricane Creek Bridge east of Marble Hill, Mo., to Highway 72 in Jackson. It will involve resurfacing the road, adding widened and paved shoulders, and improving side slopes....

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Efforts taken to keep a crucial stretch of the drought-starved Mississippi River open to barge traffic should be sufficient to avert a shipping shutdown that the industry fears is imminent, Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard officials said Friday...

ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL??? You, too, could enjoy riding this practical but super sleek ATV, hugging a quiet, relaxing country trail on a beautiful spring day! Sorry- model not included, fellas! $20 will buy a chance to win this gorgeous white Polaris 600 cc ATV, to be raffled at the annual St Mary Cathedral School Dinner Auction on February 16, 2013. ...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Contractors broke ground Thursday on construction of a bridge that will carry Interstate 64 traffic across the Missouri River near St. Louis. State and local dignitaries were on hand for the groundbreaking for the new Daniel Boone Bridge near Chesterfield, which is expected to be completed in late 2015 but which officials say will be open for traffic by the end of next year...

ST. LOUIS -- Holiday storms that pounded much of the nation with snow and rain did little to ease the overall grip of the worst U.S. drought in decades. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday shows that about 61 percent of the continental U.S. remained in some form of drought as of Tuesday, down less than a percentage point from the previous week. That number has been above 60 percent largely since July...

OMAHA, Neb. -- The amount of water released into the lower Missouri River will be decreased this month because warmer weather has reduced ice concerns. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday said it will gradually reduce the amount of water it releases out of Gavins Point dam on the South Dakota-Nebraska border to 14,000 cubic feet per second...

A Missouri House leader was in Southeast Missouri on Thursday making pitches to some of the approximately 80 people who will vote to select the Republican nominee to replace Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, on the heels of reports that Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder also is seeking the nomination...

Today is Friday, Jan. 4, the fourth day of 2013. There are 361 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 4, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his "Great Society," a series of domestic policy initiatives aimed at growing the economy and improving the quality of life for all...

Christmas Day has come and gone and, with the hustle and bustle settling down, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those involved in making the Jaycee Christmas projects successful. A special thank you to the River City Rodders for their continued support and Notre Dame Regional High School and the schools of Cape Girardeau for their efforts in raising money and donations...

The youth group from Cape Community Church would once again like to thank all our customers who supported us this year in our gift wrapping at West Park Mall. Our fundraiser was a great success due to everyone who came out and donated to our group. To our new customers and those who come back year after year, we appreciate you taking the time to support us. ...

As far as local rivalries go, basketball between Southeast Missouri State and Murray State is a local favorite. The men's basketball teams meet Saturday at the Show Me Center in what should be a fun game. Southeast was 9-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play going into last night's contest with Austin Peay. Murray was scheduled to kick off its conference schedule last night at UT Martin. The Racers, which have had several impressive seasons in recent years, were 9-3 overall going into that game...

Many things make me happy during the holiday season, but at the top of the list is Cape's Christmas tournament courtesy of semoball.com and the online female counterparts to Dick Vitale, Jordan "he scores!" Seabaugh and Rachel "hoops is heaven!" Crader...

DETROIT -- Spoiler alert: This story contains words and phrases that some people want to ban from the English language. "Spoiler alert" is among them. So are "kick the can down the road," "trending" and "bucket list." A dirty dozen have landed on the 38th annual List of Words to be Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. ...

MANILA, Philippines -- The ghetto called Aroma reeks of putrefying trash collected by its residents for recycling. Half-naked children with grimy faces play on muddy dirt roads lined by crumbling shanties of tarpaulin walls, cracked tin roofs and communal toilets. ...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and Southeast Hospital are sponsoring an exhibit -- Art for the Health of It -- that will focus on the healing benefits of art. Entry discs must be delivered to the Arts Council's gallery, 32 N. Main St., in Cape Girardeau, by Jan. 16. An opening reception will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at Southeast Hospital. Artwork will remain on display until April 25...

The best of local art is on display at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. The council finished the year with the 2012 Juried Exhibition, and it remains on display most of this month. "The Regional Juried show has always presented an outstanding opportunity for the Arts Council to showcase local talent, found both in the exquisite artists of the area, as well as in the beautiful landscapes and varied terrain unique to our region," said council director Murielle Gaither...

Son to Lee Michael and Jamie Lynn VanderMierden of Leopold, Mo., Southeast Hospital, 7:26 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. Name, Leeam Michael. Weight, 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Fourth child, first son. Mrs. VanderMierden is the former Jamie Griffon, daughter of Brian and Cindy Griffon of Fredericktown, Mo. She is a registered nurse at Southeast. VanderMierden is the son of Leo and Mary VanderMierden of Leopold. He is a civil construction inspector for the city of Cape Girardeau...

Ruth C. Wickman, 84, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at her home, surrounded by family. She was born June 21, 1928, in Chicago, to Elmer and Barrett Caroline Petersen Osher. Ruth and Robert G. Wickman were married June 2, 1951, in Oak Park, Ill...

Lela H. Rubel, 93, of Egypt Mills died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 21, 1919, in Cape Girardeau, to John and Esther Cobble Engelmann. She and Edwin Walter Rubel were married April 27, 1941, in Egypt Mills, and spent their lives together operating the family farm. He died Jan. 27, 1979...

Donald D. Pemberton, 93, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at Southeast Hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1919, near Iberia, Mo., son of Wade A. and Edna F. Wall Pemberton. He and Barbara Jones were married Dec. 1, 1945, in Caruthersville, Mo. She passed away April 21, 2008...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Ruby Phillips, 83, of Chaffee passed away Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, at Chaffee Nursing Center. Her husband, Willard "Shorty" Phillips, 89, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Ruby was born Dec. 3, 1929, in Tyronza, Ark., to Oscar and Nina Robertson Sr. Willard was born July 10, 1923, in Bragg City, Mo., to Ethridge and Ola Price Phillips. They were married May 25, 1948...

ORAN, Mo. -- Frederick H. Neal, 74, of Oran died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at his home. He was born Sept. 28, 1938, in Oran, to Frank and Estelle Fowler Neal. He attended Oran public schools and graduated from Oran High School in 1956. After high school, he was employed by St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad Co. as an agent-telegrapher, a position he held until 1964 when he became employed by the U.S. Postal Service...

Karen Gwenn Kyle, 58, of De Soto, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in De Soto. She was born Feb. 2, 1954, in St. Louis, to Willim Seymore and Shirley May Ratliff Kyle Sr. Karen was a CNA for several nursing homes in the Cape Girardeau area, and had worked as bartender at several local establishments. She loved arts and crafts, and was a very good artist, as well. She was of the Baptist belief...

THEBES, Ill. -- LaVerne Hill, 83, of Thebes died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 11, 1929, in Gale, Ill., to Elmer and Mildred Prewitt Snell. She and Earl Hill were married Dec. 13, 1946, in Corning, Ark. He preceded her in death July 12, 2010...

ANNA, Ill. — William August Bruchhauser, 82, of Anna died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna.

Pauline "Tudy" Braun, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born March 15, 1925, in Washington, Mo., to Henry and Irene Teichmann Layton. She married Glennon Braun on Jan. 31, 1950. He preceded her in death Jan. 21, 2007...

Patricia Ann Blankenship, 65, of Scott City died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 8, 1947, in Kelso, Mo., to Theon Frank "Mouse" and Marie Bertha Schoen Schaefer. She married Roy Wayne Blankenship on Jan. 18, 1964, in Jackson...

Cape Girardeau city officials are studying the possibility of constructing a new public works facility that would allow for the relocation of the operation out of the flood-prone area along Kingshighway. County Clerk Rodney Miller announces a massive voter-registration drive for January; his staff will hold special registration outreach opportunities throughout the county at schools and businesses...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests The Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety released the following item: Theft...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. job market showed resilience in three reports Thursday, suggesting it may able to withstand a looming federal budget battle that threatens more economic uncertainty. A survey showed private hiring increased last month, while layoffs declined and applications for unemployment benefits stayed near a four-year low. The data led some economists to raise forecasts for December job growth one day before the government releases its closely watched employment report...

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

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team hopes to get back on track in the friendly confines of the Show Me Center. Southeast, riding a season-long three-game losing streak, hosts Ohio Valley Conference opponent Austin Peay at 2 p.m. Saturday to begin a three-game homestand...

WASHINGTON -- Tucked into the "fiscal cliff" tax package approved by Congress are billions of dollars in tax breaks for businesses of many stripes, including film producers, racetrack owners and makers of electric motorcycles. More than 50 temporary tax breaks were renewed through 2013, saving businesses and individuals about $76 billion. ...

ARTS COUNCIL OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI There will be no public reception, as the Arts Council has its annual awards presentation, open to Arts Council members only. CATEYE GLASSES STUDIO "Earth, Wind and Fire" will feature the artwork of Stacey Schotzhauer, Sam Espiricueta and Danny Rohr...

Southeast Missourian ~ The Marston, Mo., rest area on southbound Interstate 55 in New Madrid County will be closed next week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make plumbing repairs. Work will begin at 7 a.m. Monday and will conclude Jan. 11...

O Father God, may we be strong and courageous, for you are with us. Amen.

Maybe you feel the same way I do in the wake of recent developments in our nation's capital. I feel like I'm in a Wile E. Coyote cartoon. The Roadrunner has pushed me off the cliff, but I'm suspended in mid-air. It's too far to climb back up, and if I fall it will hurt...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas City's National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial will be home to a new national commission under legislation approved by Congress. The 12-member World War I Centennial Commission will be responsible for planning, developing and executing national projects and activities marking the war's outbreak in 1914...

DETROIT -- A steadily improving economy and strong December sales lifted the American auto industry to its best performance in five years, especially for Volkswagen and Japanese-brand vehicles -- and experts say the next year should be even better...

NEW YORK -- A last-minute surge in spending seems to have saved the holiday shopping season. Major retailers including Costco, Gap and Nordstrom on Thursday reported better-than-expected revenue in December. That comes as a relief for stores, which can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue in the last two months of the year...

WASHINGTON -- A new Congress opened for business Thursday to confront long-festering national problems, deficits and immigration among them, in an intensely partisan and crisis-driven era of divided government. "The American dream is in peril," said House Speaker John Boehner, re-elected to his post despite a mini-revolt in Republican ranks...

The Perry County Lutheran Chorale will host its annual After-Christmas Christmas Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Mo. Enjoy favorite carols such as "I Wonder as I Wander," "O, Holy Night" and more performed by the chorale and accompanied by strings. For more information, go online to www.lutheransonline.com/pclc...

Dorothy Marie Lincoln, 76, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 21, 1936, in Patton, Mo., daughter of Harley and Grace McGraw Statler. Mrs. Lincoln was an owner of Lincoln Store and worked as a secretary for Bollinger County and the Livestock Producers. She was a member of Little Whitewater Baptist Church...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Wanda Jo Medling, 70, of Marble Hill died Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 16, 1942, in Fairdealing, Mo., to the late Henry Lloyd and Iona Alice Allen Ward. She and Jerry Ray Medling were married April 23, 1966, in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team allowed more than 80 points for just the third time this season and gave up a season-high 53.1-percent field-goal shooting. Southeast's top player, junior forward Tyler Stone, was on the court for just five second-half minutes before fouling out with a season-low six points...