Stories from Friday, June 27, 2014

By 11 a.m. Thursday, a crowd of about 80 people had settled in to the low din of the Broadway Biergarten in Cape Girardeau. Most of the fans packed in the benches had taken off work; others claimed to be on their lunch hour. A few, however, admitted unapologetically they were playing hooky, all for one reason: It was World Cup soccer. You just had to be there...

If funding is not found to keep Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center open, the biggest loss will be for the children, say officials with the local mental-health facility. Counselor Amy Edwards has been helping children at the center in Cape Girardeau for 15 years. She said closing Cottonwood and transferring children to a state-operated facility in St. Louis would be like splitting up a family...

To meet the demand for increased public safety needs, the Cape Girardeau City Council discussed the possibility of using casino funds for radio equipment upgrades for the police and fire departments. The council gathered in a special planning session Thursday evening to discuss fiscal discipline, where city staff provided details about fiscal challenges facing the city...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents on Thursday approved its operating and auxiliary budgets for fiscal year 2015-2016, along with high-priority items for the Show Me Center. The board approved a $106.7 million operating budget and a $36.9 million auxiliary budget. Auxiliary budgets are self-supporting operations that do not receive state funding. They also have to generate revenue to cover their expenses...

Members of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents got a sneak peek Thursday at the River Campus expansion as it nears completion. Tours were conducted by Facilities Management staff as part of the regents' meeting. Construction costs for the 93,500-square-foot expansion, which will include 184 total beds, are budgeted at $23,284,000. ...

Fred Eggley caught this 40-pound carp on a 6-pound test line while fishing for bluegill in a private lake.

During the week of June 22 - June 26 131 children came together to Imagine and Build with God at Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The VBS, led by Deneke' Murphy Director of Children's Ministries at Centenary Church, learned that ordinary things become extraordinary when put in the hands of God. ...

On a beautiful summertime morning, my radio-controlled sailplane, "Bird of Time" pulls through a loop way up high over the hay fields. It's powered to altitude by a vintage Cox .15 'Medallion' engine, using an ounce of two-stroke fuel that runs it for 4-5 minutes...

Today is Friday, June 27, the 178th day of 2014. There are 187 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On June 27, 1864, Confederate forces repelled a frontal assault by Union troops in the Civil War Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia...

Last week's column was about how to read your utility bills, which are complicated and, unless you work in Ameren's billing department, meaningless, except for the amount you have to pay. That's very clear. Do you know what's even more complicated than a utility bill? I'll tell you. ...

Operating remote-controlled toys isn't just for kids. Around 100 model airplanes are expected to be in the Cape Girardeau sky this weekend for the 3D Fly-Low-In. The models are impressive, with wing spans between 6 and 8 feet. The show was scheduled to start Thursday and continues through noon Sunday at Galaxy Air Field, located off State Highway 177 north of Cape Girardeau...

According to the ACLU, citizens should not allow their cellphones to be tracked by location. Researching different locations in the U.S., Cape Girardeau is not the only place in the country that does not have this phone location capability. With cameras on stop lights, the Patriot Act, the NSA spying on telephones, appliances, computers on U.S. ...

We have a government that is lying to us on many different levels. It's so obvious it's lying to us on these emails from the IRS. But at the same time, that's not the important thing. The important thing is that this county was founded on a belief in God, a belief, more specifically, on Jesus Christ. Until we get back to believing in Jesus Christ, things aren't going to go right with our government. We have to get back to the foundation. The foundation is to believe in God...

Last week's column was about how to read your utility bills, which are complicated and, unless you work in Ameren's billing department, meaningless, except for the amount you have to pay. That's very clear. Do you know what's even more complicated than a utility bill? I'll tell you. ...

The American Red Cross honored its 2014 Everyday Heroes on Thursday at the Isle of Capri Casino in Cape Girardeau. Recognized for their courage and service were Nolan Weber of Jackson, who died of brain cancer last year; Cory Beussink of Jackson, who is a pediatric physical therapist at Southeast Health Outpatient Rehabilitation; and Ron and JoAnn Hahs of Daisy, Missouri, who volunteer all over the country...

EDMOND, Okla. -- Earthquakes that have shaken Oklahoma communities in recent months have damaged homes, alarmed residents and prompted lawmakers and regulators to investigate what's behind the temblors -- and what can be done to stop them...

David Hill, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at Southeast Hospital. He was born July 3, 1942, in Cape Girardeau, to Russell and Mona Gregory Hill Sr. David graduated from Central High School. He loved animals and spending time outdoors. He was greatly loved by his family and friends. He was always the life of the party...

The Rev. Dale Johnson Huff, 87, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 26, 2014, while surrounded by family and friends at Chateau Girardeau. He was born March 10, 1927, in Lutesville, Missouri, son of William and Lottie Johnson Huff. He and Vera Nell Stone were married Dec. 8, 1948. She preceded him in death July 2, 2000. He later married Dotty Wulfers on Aug. 3, 2002...

BENTON, Mo. -- Kaden Phillip Robert, 15, of Benton passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, from injuries sustained in a tragic accident. Family and friends lined the hallways to pay their final respects...

Melvin Eddy Henderson, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at his home. He was born Aug. 18, 1936, in Thebes, Illinois, to Melvin C. and Nellie Bailey Henderson. He and Lawanda Bledsoe were married Aug. 6, 1956, in Jackson. Melvin was a member of Church of God Fellowship in Cape Girardeau. He had been a truck driver with Red Ball Express. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and was passionate about the St. Louis Cardinals...

Bessie Jane Johnson, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at Monticello House in Jackson. She was born May 27, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, at the family home on Bend Road, daughter of Frank and May Mullins Hopper. Bessie and Samuel Brooks Johnson were married July 25, 1946. He preceded her in death Jan. 7, 2007...

Ben Holland Lents, 74, of Cape Girardeau died peacefully in his home Monday, June 23, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents, Holland and Elsie Lents, and a brother, Jerry. Ben is survived by two nieces, Janis Stewart and Audrey Andress; a nephew, Michael Lents; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Lents. He also leaves behind his close lifelong companion, Joyce Cole, whom he had known since they were students at Lincoln High School...

Irma M. Frye, 78, of Scott City died Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Wilbert "Wib" Reisenbichler, 87, of Pocahontas died Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas...

The British may have developed their military leaders on the playing fields of Eton, but some Canadian rockers laid their plans on the Little League fields of Winnipeg, Manitoba. That's where guitarist Randy Bachman and drummer Garry Peterson decided to start the band that became The Guess Who. The group's contemporary incarnation will play two 90-minute shows in the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau's Events Center at 7 and 9 p.m. July 5. Tickets are $25, $50 and $75...

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

FRESNO, Calif. -- A California wind farm will become the first in the nation to avoid prosecution if eagles are injured or die when they run into the giant turning blades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday. The Shiloh IV Wind Project LLC, 60 miles east of San Francisco, will receive a special permit allowing up to five golden eagles to be accidentally killed over five years. ...

LOS ANGELES -- LeVar Burton says his "Reading Rainbow" fundraising effort is getting a generous boost from Seth MacFarlane. Burton said Thursday that MacFarlane promised to match up to $1 million in pledges made on the Kickstarter website. The offer from MacFarlane is in effect through 2 p.m. Wednesday, Burton said in a statement...

IZVARYNE, Ukraine -- As a cease-fire in the east entered its final hours Thursday, thousands of Ukrainians in cars stuffed with belongings lined up at the border to cross into Russia, some vowing never to return. Many said they were most frightened for their children and desperate to take them to safety...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court unanimously struck down the 35-foot protest-free zone outside abortion clinics in Massachusetts Thursday, declaring it an unconstitutional restraint on the free-speech rights of protesters. Authorities have less-intrusive ways to deal with potential confrontations or other problems that can arise outside clinics, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Thursday limited the president's power to fill high-level vacancies with temporary appointments, ruling in favor of Senate Republicans in their partisan clash with President Barack Obama. The high court's first case involving the Constitution's recess appointments clause ended in a unanimous decision holding that Obama's appointments to the National Labor Relations Board in 2012 without Senate confirmation were illegal...

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

Scott Rigsby, the first man to complete the famed Ironman triathlon on two prosthetic legs, will speak at 7 p.m. today at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. He also plans to participate in the Run for God races Saturday. Race organizer Scott McQuay said he's excited to have Rigsby at the events...

Aided by a June 19 appellate court ruling in another case, Rocky Kingree of Van Buren, Missouri, was successful Tuesday in getting his name placed on the Aug. 5 primary election ballot as the only Republican candidate for Division II associate circuit judge in Butler County...

Contact Football camp brings conference teams together

Southbound Interstate 55 in Pemiscot County, between Route O and the state line, will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make pavement repairs. The work will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Monday through Thursday, according to a MoDOT news release....

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said Thursday he personally supports gay marriage but will defend a state constitutional ban against it after St. Louis officials issued marriage licenses to four same-sex couples at a city hall ceremony...

BAGHDAD -- Prominent Shiite leaders pushed Thursday for the removal of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as parliament prepared to start work next week on putting together a new government, under U.S. pressure to rapidly form a united front against a Sunni insurgent onslaught...

Former Southeast Missouri State forward Tyler Stone, who worked out for six NBA teams in the weeks leading up to Thursday's draft, was not selected during the two-round draft. Stone worked out for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, but Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said he wasn't expected to be drafted...

LOS ANGELES -- Pinch-hitter Justin Turner delivered an RBI single in the eighth inning off Adam Wainwright (10-4), and the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 Thursday night in their first meeting since last year's NL championship series...

The centerpiece of Jackson's yearlong bicentennial celebration will take place July 4 and 5, with activities ranging from pageants and parades to races for people and rubber ducks -- and helicopter rides and fun in the mud. Jackson's Independence Day celebrations are known to be fun, and this year's two-day event promises even more events and activities. ...

Mark Rees, local singer and songwriter, will perform at 7:30 p.m. today at the weekly Rock in the Rock Garden concert at the Jackson City Park Rock Garden. Often heard at the Cape Cowboy Church and area wineries and clubs, Rees is known for songs such as "One Man, One Guitar," "Life's Too Short" and "My Nephew, The Soldier." Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged...

In July, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, 32 N. Main St., in Cape Girardeau, will display the work of the River Region Photography Association in an exhibit titled "CLICK." The work of about 30 of the group's members will be shown. Information on where each image was made and how the artist captured it will be included. ...

The city of Cape Girardeau has embarked upon a $10,000 advertising campaign to boost passenger boardings at the municipal airport and prevent the loss of $300,000 a year in federal funding for the facility. Gasoline prices continue their downward spiral in the immediate Cape Girardeau area despite crude oil prices hovering at just over $20 a barrel; the lowest prices are at Fruitland, where unleaded fuel at self-service pumps sells for 88.9 cents a gallon...

Lord God, we praise you for we are more than conquerors through Jesus. Amen.

OLD MINES, Mo. (AP) -- A small circle of history researchers is racing to capture the last remnants of a little-known French dialect that endures in some old Missouri mining towns before the few remaining native speakers succumb to old age. So-called Missouri French is spoken by fewer than 30 people in Old Mines, southwest of St. Louis, although dozens of others can still rattle off phrases from childhood songs or overheard conversations involving their parents and grandparents...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Sam Conlon is battling an addiction. OK, "battling" might be a generous description. "Perpetuating" might be a more accurate word to describe what she's doing as she and her friend Shannon McBride ease a display rack across the hardwood floor of the third historic building Conlon has bought since she came to this town about 60 miles north of Cape Girardeau 13 years ago...

A big offensive night appeared to be in the works for the SEMO Pirates when Logan Carter launched a one-out solo home run in the first inning against the Midwest Phillies on Thursday at Capaha Field. However, the Pirates, the Leopold Senior Babe Ruth baseball team, were held hitless the remainder of the way by two Phillies pitchers and ultimately lost 3-1 in their first game in Pool B play at the Pastime Midwest Select Tournament...