Stories from Monday, January 20, 2014

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Joplin has recognized a retiring Federal Emergency Management Agency official who directed much of FEMA's response to the 2011 tornado. The Joplin Globe reported Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean presented a proclamation Friday to Richard Serino, deputy FEMA administrator. According to the proclamation, Serino made the visit to Joplin one of his last official acts before retiring Jan. 23...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- Pulaski County authorities have dropped charges against two foreign military officers who were training at Fort Leonard Wood when they were arrested. The Rolla Daily News reported Mohammed Mahmoud Omar Mefleh, of Jordan, and Antoine Chela, of Lebanon, were charged in October with enticement of a child and harassment. Court records say the men allegedly approached a 12-year-old girl at a bus stop and asked her to enter their vehicle...

SUNSET HILLS, Mo. -- Bow hunters killed more than 50 deer in a new effort to stem Sunset Hill's growing deer population. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunset Hills is among the St. Louis County communities to allow hunting to reduce the deer population. Other area cities that allow bow hunting include Ballwin, Chesterfield, Clarkson Valley, Ellisville, Manchester, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights and Wildwood...

ST. LOUIS -- The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is scheduled to open early next month. The new bridge will carry Interstate 70 over the Mississippi River. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the four-lane, cable-stayed bridge and associated highway projects are being funded with a combination of Missouri, Illinois and federal money...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri could carry out executions with firing squads under legislation proposed in the House. The state currently puts inmates to death with injections of lethal drugs, although existing law also permits use of lethal gas -- the method by which 39 people were executed from 1938 to 1965...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Federal officials are barred from spending money on a Missouri River environmental study for a third straight year under a $1.1 trillion governmentwide spending bill. Missouri congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer introduced the amendment that would prohibit funding for the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan, a study that conservationists say is needed but farming and levee groups strongly dislike. President Barack Obama signed the spending bill Friday...

ST. LOUIS -- A walk down the six-mile city street named for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. yields plenty of images that would surely unsettle the civil rights leader: shuttered storefronts, open-air drug markets and a glut of pawn shops, quickie check-cashing providers and liquor stores...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com Mark Thompson reads one of the informational placards along the flood wall mural Sunday in downtown Cape Girardeau. Thompson, who recently moved to Cape Girardeau from Idaho, said he was out enjoying the 40 degree weather....

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As legislatures return to action and governors outline their budget plans, politicians in many states are facing a pleasant election-year challenge: What to do with all the extra money? A slow but steady economic recovery is generating more tax revenue than many states had anticipated, offering elected officials tantalizing choices about whether to ply voters with tax breaks, boost spending for favorite programs or sock away cash for another rainy day...

Fundraising reports for state representatives who must be re-elected later this year to hold their seats were recently released. State representatives turn in quarterly fundraising reports to the Missouri Ethics Commission while in office. During election years, more frequent reports are required. Representatives seeking re-election to two-year terms this year will be on the ballot in an August primary and the November general election...

Arts, crafts and face painting are in Cape Girardeau's future as part of Messy Morning, set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 at the Show Me Center. Attendance typically averages about 3,000 for the free event, which celebrates Week of the Young Child by providing hands-on, educational activities for children, according to Janice Jones, coordinator of the United Way of Southeast Missouri's Success By 6 initiative...

In her new job as communications director of the Cape Girardeau School District, Dana Saverino combines her passion for children, organizational skills and her yen to be creative. "I'm all about working as a team, and so, with that in mind, I tried to see what I could do to bring it all together. And if I went into PR and advertising, I could work with children, but also help guide different things [and] also enjoy doing the creative side as well," Saverino said...

ST. LOUIS -- When the bell rings at St. Louis Children's Hospital, it's time for celebration. The big brass bell that hangs near the nurses' station is rung only by young patients who have finished chemotherapy or radiation. On Jan. 12, Janet Pruneau of O'Fallon, Ill., got her turn. ...

An indoor shooting range opened in September in Cape Girardeau, becoming the only such range for about 100 miles, according to Eric Young, owner of Eagle Gun and Shooting Range. There are two unstaffed shooting range facilities in Cape Girardeau County maintained by the Missouri Department of Conservation, according to the its website. Apple Creek allows pistol, rifle, handgun and archery practice, and Maintz Wildlife Preserve allows archery practice...

An autopsy conducted Sunday on a Jackson woman whose body was pulled from the Mississippi River confirmed the cause of death was drowning, Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said. Authorities discovered the body of Autumn D. Vinson, 62, in a Pontiac Bonneville submerged in five to six feet of water east of the Red Star boat access area, the Cape Girardeau Police Department reported Friday...

Cape Central Middle School sixth grade Students of the Month for January are, from left: (front row) Dylan Jordan, Mina McKee, Gabby Malo and I'iana Phillips; (second row) Luke Eftink, Sabrina Hess, Farhiya Musa and Haley Brazel; (third row) Lyvia Ford, Taviunna Allen, Dakari Crocket and Gabe Bengtson. SoutheastHEALTH recognizes these students in its role as a Partner in Education with Central Middle School...

Cape Central Middle School fifth grade Students of the Month for January are, from left: (front row) Andrea Guiterrez, Keaton Byars, Jay Kiya Turner and Lizzy Turk; (second row) Gracen Trickey, Tanner King, Angela Brown and Mallory Cook; (third row) Caleb Harris, Layla Sumner, Jack Maxton and Landon Pearson. SoutheastHEALTH recognizes these students in its role as a Partner in Education with Central Middle School...

St. Louis, MO: Hawthorn Physician Services Corporation announced today the appointment of Shelly Guffey-Bangert as Director, Revenue Cycle Management. Hawthorn is a healthcare revenue cycle management company specialized to serve hospital-based and office-based physician practices. ...

The New Salem United Methodist Women of New Salem United Methodist Church, Daisy MO met January 15, 2014 for lunch and meeting at the home of Joyce Brewer. President, Shirley Grebe, called the meeting to order with 12 members present. The Secretary and Treasures reports was read and accepted as read...

You can help save a life by joining the Be the Match RegistryŽ, the national registry of bone marrow donors. The Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society Alliance will hold two bone marrow registry drives -- Friday, Jan. 24, in the Indian Room at the University Center on the Southeast Missouri State University campus and the other on Saturday, Jan. 25, in the JCPenney wing at West Park Mall. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days. SoutheastHEALTH is the Presenting Sponsor...

DENVER -- Peyton Manning stuffed the football into his helmet and handed it to an equipment man for safekeeping. The connection: Flawless, as usual. The keepsake: Certainly one he'll want to hang on to. The Broncos quarterback had an answer for everyone Sunday -- from Tom Brady to the New England defense to anyone who thought he couldn't win the big one...

Today is Monday, Jan. 20, the 20th day of 2014. There are 345 days left in the year. This is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 20, 1981, Iran released 52 Americans it had held hostage for 444 days, minutes after the presidency had passed from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan...

In 18 years in the mental health field, Audrey Burger, clinical operations director for the Community Counseling Center, has seen her share of changes. A heightened awareness of mental health issues means people are seeking help at a younger age. Last year, the center broke ground on a $1.5 million expansion, a project made necessary by the increase of people seeking help at the center. ...

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural areas, where about 20 percent of the U.S. population lives. And as that population ages, the need for health care increases. Rural residents are also limited by lack of transportation, extreme weather, social isolation and poverty...

Tyler, Travis and David Blessing have more in common than being brothers. They're all certified personal trainers, and they own a business together, TNT Fitness. "We always liked exercise and fitness, and we wanted to choose a career that would help people," says David, the oldest, who's been doing personal training for about four years...

When employers make wellness a priority in their workplace, it has a positive effect on employee health and the company's bottom line. Both SoutheastHEALTH and Saint Francis Medical Center offer workplace wellness programs to help local businesses identify the biggest health concerns among their employees and then find ways to improve health in those areas...

GAME KNIGHTS OPENS IN CAPE Game Knights Books and Collectibles opened at 57 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau. The business sells gaming and hobby supplies for games such as Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon, according to owner Jeremy Pierce....

HORMONE REPLACEMENT BUSINESS OPENS IN CAPE Vitality opened at 465 S. Mount Auburn Road, Suite 103 in Cape Girardeau. Vitality offers all-natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy specific to each individual. BENNETT INDUCTED TO COLLEGE OF DENTISTS...

BEGGS JOINS THOMAS INSURANCE Kim Beggs joined Thomas Insurance Co. of Cape Girardeau as an agent specializing in all lines of health insurance. She has more than seven years of experience selling health insurance. SPOOLER CERTIFIED IN PRODUCTION, INVENTORY FIELDS...

Cape Girardeau County Tax liens and lien discharges recorded at the office of Scott R. Clark, recorder of deeds, during December are filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue, except as indicated by IRS designation. For more information, contact the recorder's office at 573-243-8123...

Business licenses issued in Cape Girardeau during December include the following:BG's Old Tyme Deli, 205 S. Plaza Way CVS/Pharmacy (liquor license), 2161 William St. Ford's Mobile Wash LLC, 413 Blue Willow Lane Game Knights Books & Collectibles, 57 S. Plaza Way...

Bankruptcies filed through December for the Southeastern Division of the Eastern District of Missouri's U.S. Bankruptcy Court are listed below with their corresponding case number. The Southeast Division includes the counties of Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne. Court is held in Cape Girardeau...

After 12 1/2 years of service, James Hirsch announced yesterday he will retire from the Cape Girardeau School Board; the same day, John Eck filed for a position on the board; Eck's filing brings the number of candidates to five. Scott City Mayor Albert Schlenker resigns after nine months in office, saying the job involves more than he had anticipated; James Cauble, mayor pro tem, takes over his duties...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Paul D. Spane, 72, passed away Sunday Jan. 19, 2014, at Chaffee Nursing Center. He was born on May 1, 1941, at Bell City to the late Eugene and Lelia Pauline Neezle Spane. Paul was a military policeman in the U.S. Army. He married Joyce Tankersley on Oct. 16, 1964, and she survives of the home. Paul was a member of the Perkins Baptist Church...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- Arthur Lee Poorman, 76, of Bonne Terre made his heavenly flight Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. He was born July 23, 1937, in Chaffee, Mo., to the late Elmer A. and Mima Lee Harmon Poorman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Delbert Poorman...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Dorothy Sue Hebenstreit, 81, of Advance passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at Woodland Hills in Marble Hill, Mo. She was born June 18, 1932, at Thornton, Ark., the daughter of Carol and Lucille Hodge Gresham. Dorothy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Advance and the St. Joseph Parish Council Catholic Women. She worked as a secretary at Mirly's in Advance for many years...

John G. Frye, 86, of Scott City died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Marsha Ann Headrick Brown, 40, of Cape Girardeau, joined her heavenly father Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. She was born April 3, 1973, in Chaffee, Mo., to Vicki Medley and Quinton William Headrick Sr. Marsha was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her...

SEATTLE -- All four of the NFL's network partners have bid on the Thursday night television package, a person with knowledge of the bidding process told The Associated Press on Sunday. The league has used its NFL Network to televise the games, but recently put up the 13-game series for bids and received them from NBC, Fox, CBS and ESPN. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the bidders are not being made public...

I don't use the roundabout, and it's harder to get to my church and my work. The way I take is easier for someone my age, except now they're working on Perryville Road. Also, many misuse the roundabout, which is really unneeded. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. Couldn't our tax money have been used for something else? If you want to do something that's needed, please work on the traffic problem at Clippard School and open up Lexington again...

Today is the day our nation celebrates the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King, obviously, is an iconic figure in our nation's history, leading efforts to ensure equal opportunities for minority Americans. It can't be overstated on the effect King had on rights for black Americans...

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

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Friday:...

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

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Farmers spent the last few years planting as much corn as they could, but with its price half what it was a couple of years ago, the crop's golden luster has dulled and many growers are considering shifting acreage back to soybeans...

NEW YORK -- An email sent to the roughly 70 million Target customers who may have been affected by a pre-Christmas data breach is causing panic among those who fear it could be an attempt to victimize them again. Target says the email, which offers free credit monitoring services to potential victims of the breach, is legitimate. But the company identified a handful of scammers who are trying to take advantage of the public's fear and confusion...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Ahead of the start of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, an official in the Islamic Republic called limiting uranium enrichment and diluting its stockpile the country's "most important commitments," state radio reported Sunday...

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi government forces and allied tribal militias launched an all-out offensive Sunday to push al-Qaida militants from a provincial capital, an assault that killed or wounded some 20 police officers and government-allied tribesmen, officials said...

KIEV, Ukraine -- Anti-government protests in Ukraine's capital escalated into fiery street battles with police Sunday as thousands of demonstrators hurled rocks and firebombs to set police vehicles ablaze. Dozens of officers and protesters were injured...

TRENTON, N.J. -- The Democratic mayor of a town severely flooded by Superstorm Sandy said Sunday that she was told an ultimatum tying recovery funds to her support for a prime real estate project came directly from Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a claim a Christie spokesman called "categorically false."...

WASHINGTON -- The opening of Postal Service retail centers in dozens of Staples stores around the country is being met with threats of protests and boycotts by the agency's unions. The new outlets are staffed by Staples employees, not postal workers, and labor officials say that move replaces good-paying union jobs with low-wage, nonunion workers...

WASHINGTON -- A chief element of President Barack Obama's attempt to overhaul U.S. surveillance will not work, leaders of Congress' intelligence committees said Sunday, pushing back against the idea that the government should cede control of how Americans' phone records are stored...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Almost overnight, Virginia has emerged as a critical state in the nationwide fight to grant gay men and women the right to wed. This purple state was once perceived as unfriendly and even bordering on hostile to gay rights. That's changed after a seismic political shift in the top three elected offices, from conservative Republicans to liberal Democrats who support gay marriage...

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said he doesn't think marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, "in terms of its impact on the individual consumer." "As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don't think it is more dangerous than alcohol," the president said an interview with "The New Yorker" magazine...

The Redhawks have had a week off since their last contest

The Cardinals' 15-game winner pitched just one inning in playoffs

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Seahawks are bringing their game-changing defense -- and the 12th Man -- to the Big Apple for the Super Bowl. Seattle's top-ranked defense forced three fourth-quarter turnovers, and Russell Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass on fourth down for the winning points in a 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC title Sunday...

The Cardinals Caravan will visit the Osage Centre today in Cape Girardeau. Cardinals players and prospects scheduled for the 6 p.m. appearance are Seth Maness, Keith Butler and Randal Grichuk. The event will be emceed by former Cardinals pitcher and Fox Midwest announcer Rick Horton and will include Cardinals alums Al Hrabosky, Andy Benes and Kerry Robinson...

Dr. Andrew Dickey now is board-certified in medical oncology. Dickey already is certified in hematology and internal medicine. Dr. Andrew Moore now is board certified in medical oncology and hematology. Moore already is certified in internal medicine. Dickey and Moore joined the Southeast Cancer Center practice last year...

The Old Town Cape annual dinner will be Feb. 27 at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, 777 N. Main St., according to a newsletter from the not-for-profit downtown revitalization organization. The dinner is sponsored by the casino and will celebrate downtown accomplishments of 2013, the newsletter said...

O Heavenly Father, may the joy of the Lord fill our heart. Amen.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- She's won Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards, but Rita Moreno had to pull the car over when the call came that she would receive the SAG Life Achievement Award. "It was stunning news," Moreno said, "the last thing in the world I would have ever expected."...

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- Jim McCann hasn't taught his grandchildren how to drive a tractor yet, but they may already be able to teach him how to operate a piece of equipment that could be in farming's future. McCann, of Lawrence County, Mo., is president of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association and was among more than 100 farmers who attended the 90th annual Lawrence County Soils and Crops Conference earlier this month...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The approaching centennial of the First World War will draw a lot of attention to Kansas City, home of the largest and oldest repository of information about the Great War this side of the Imperial War Museums in London...