Stories from Thursday, July 3, 2014

The Scott County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in bringing a suspect into custody. Don Chappell, 45, is wanted by the State of Missouri for violating his parole from the St. Louis Community Release Center, according to information provided by the department. Chappell had been serving a sentence for two counts of felony burglary...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri ended its annual budget year with revenue falling significantly short of what had been expected, meaning the state may soon have to dip into reserves to pay its bills. Figures released Wednesday show net general revenue declined 1 percent for the 2014 fiscal year when compared with the previous year. That translates to $308 million short of what Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon projected and $241 million short of the forecast by Republican legislative leaders...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A Williamsville, Missouri, man is back behind bars after allegedly escaping early Wednesday morning from the Wayne County Jail. Donald Wayne Sanders had been "causing problems in the jail," explained Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The case against a Bell City, Missouri, man charged with molesting a child has been pushed to September. Shawn Al Green, who was arrested in April, is charged with two counts of statutory sodomy with a person younger than 14 and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- With the final Carter County residents accounted for following Sunday's flash flooding, recovery efforts are underway to help the numerous residents whose homes were damaged. "What we're doing is brainstorming and strategizing," as well as scheduling volunteers and setting tasks, said Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens from a command post set up at the First Baptist Church in Van Buren...

BERNIE, Mo. -- Three of four men who allegedly fled first from Bernie police and later from Malden, Missouri, police Sunday night are in custody at the Dunklin County Jail. At 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Bernie police attempted to stop a red Dodge Ram pickup truck believed to have been stolen from Cape Girardeau. ...

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Children toss rocks and drift wood into the Mississippi River alongside the Queen of the Mississippi, Wednesday, July 2, 2014, in downtown Cape Girardeau....

Notre Dame Regional High School's mission trip to Montgomery, Alabama, held an added bonus for the 15 participants -- a chance to meet the Rev. Bernice King, youngest daughter of Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the June 16-through-21 trip, the group of seven students and eight adults worked with Resurrection Catholic Missions in Montgomery to do outreach work for the parish's grade school, cleaning apartments for elderly residents in the community, doing some painting and delivering Meals on Wheels, among other tasks.. ...

Those who thought the roads were crowded during Memorial Day weekend might want to celebrate Independence Day weekend at home. AAA Travel projected 41 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home this weekend, a 14 percent increase compared to the Memorial Day holiday. It's also a slight increase from the number of travelers from last year's Fourth of July weekend...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have required a 72-hour wait for women seeking abortions, asserting that legislators showed a "callous disregard for women" by granting no exception for rape and incest victims...

The Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad is investigating a pair of homicides and several other recent shootings in the area. The squad was reactivated Wednesday to investigate possible similarities among several recent shootings, according to a news release from the Cape Girardeau Police Department...

Fireworks and the Fourth just go hand in hand. It's a 230-years-plus tradition, started in Philadelphia when it was the capital of the nascent United States. Now, almost all municipalities have an official fireworks display to commemorate Independence Day, and area cities and towns are no exception...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- While Three Rivers College has seen a change in leadership and budget numbers in recent days, no change is anticipated for the institution's Eastern Campus in Sikeston. TRC officials say budget withholdings for higher education by Missouri Gov. ...

When Mary Kasten decided to leave the Missouri State Legislature in 2001, then-U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson addressed the assembly to recognize Kasten's service, even referring to her as the "Grandmother of the Missouri House of Representatives." But Kasten's public achievements go beyond a reputation in the Legislature. Before and after her 18 years of service in the House, she worked tirelessly to improve Cape Girardeau, where she has lived since 1954...

The note -- written on torn, now-yellowed paper in a traditional, slightly shaky cursive -- arrived in a postage-paid business reply envelope marked, "Please give to man who wrote articles on Huffman case." It implored a reporter to visit its author at her home north of Benton, Missouri, "and please keep plans quiet."...

Over the past two years, the Charleston Bluejays girls basketball team raised $2,962 for Dig for Life at its annual Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout. The team recently donated the funds to Saint Francis Medical Center to provide free mammograms to local women who otherwise could not afford them...

Thank you to all of the great CUPC folks who put on an amazing patriotic block party for our community on Wednesday, July 2. We also thank all of those who attended and helped make this a success. Some of the most popular activities included the dunking booth, the inflatable castle bounce house slide, hockey, bean bag toss, sack races, and face painting. ...

Billie is a rescue cat that loves lots of attention and can roll over 20+times in a row!

Members of Anthony Hempstead's family gathered in Koreena Woodson's house Wednesday afternoon, passing around pictures of Hempstead and remembering his quirks. "Did you see those ears?" Moniqwa Hunt cooed, holding a photo from Hempstead's basketball days. In it he's skinny and young, wearing a too-big Central Tigers jersey...

Southeast Cancer Center's Warriors of Hope team for Relay for Life raised $17,000 this year for the fight against cancer. Half of the proceeds went to the American Cancer Society and the other half to Southeast's We Can Weekend annual retreat for cancer patients and their families...

Today is Thursday, July 3, the 184th day of 2014. There are 181 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On July 3, 1863, the three-day Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended in a major victory for the North as Confederate troops failed to breach Union positions during an assault known as Pickett's Charge...

June 21 marked the inaugural Semoball Awards banquet. I have attended many events at the Show Me Center over its 27-year history. I cannot, however, remember witnessing a finer, more professional and inspirational event than occurred that evening. On behalf of SoutheastHEALTH, we congratulate the Rust Communications family and event chair Lucas Presson for organizing, producing and executing such a memorable evening...

The city of Cape Girardeau will be hosting the celebration of our nation's independence with fireworks at the riverfront and at the Common Pleas Courthouse steps with the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award. How fitting to bring back this important moment in our past to our own city's history and relationship with the mighty Mississippi!...

Mary Kasten is a former Missouri legislator, education advocate and active member of this community. Her passion for the community and nation is well chronicled. On Friday night, at the Cape Girardeau Fourth of July program held at the foot of the Common Please Courthouse, Kasten will be recognized as the 12th recipient of the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award...

Today we celebrate our nation's many freedoms. But are we truly, totally free? Of course not. Certainly we have escaped, as a model for the world, so many of the bonds that enslave too many people around the globe. But we still can't open a package of AAA batteries without uttering a few choice words...

Members of the River Region Photography Association will be in charge of the Saturday Social from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 19 at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, 34 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau. They will present Photography 101, a photography workshop. Association president Dan Buckenmeyer invites participants to bring digital cameras to the social, where useful tips will be given on capturing the best image. The work of association members is on display at the Arts Council this month...

The excitement was infectious in the upstairs dining hall theater at Port Cape Girardeau on a Tuesday night. There were still 30 minutes before rehearsal, but members of the River City Players already were in costume and trying out their new bench for the first time. It was two weeks before opening night, and the actors were getting the full experience for the first time...

Daughter to Cody Raymond and Christina Louise Pearl of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Hospital, 9:29 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014. Name, Gaia Leilana. Weight, 7 pounds, 7 ounces. Fourth child, third daughter. Mrs. Pearl is the former Christina Poole, daughter of Donna and James Russell of Cape Girardeau. Pearl is the son of Mary Karraker of Cape Girardeau and Raymond and Teresa Pearl of Vienna, Illinois. He is employed by Save-A-Lot...

The venerable Delta Queen races by Cape Girardeau about 2 a.m., far ahead of the newer and larger Mississippi Queen, on the final leg of the 1989 Great Steamboat Race from New Orleans to St. Louis; the race will end tomorrow, when the steamboats arrive at the finish line in front of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis...

I've never met anyone who is comfortable with abortions. Everyone I've talked to is personally opposed to abortion as a means of birth control. I feel the same way. But abortions are legal. Like it or not, the Supreme Court decided that women have a right to have an abortion if they choose...

Nominated by Eisleben Lutheran Church Eisleben Lutheran Church is proud to nominate Shirley Young for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Shirley was wife of Army Lt. Col. and pilot Lloyd Young. In 50-plus years of marriage, Shirley was the "wind beneath Lloyd's wings," caring for their family and enabling him to serve. ...

Nominated by Noon Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau The Noon Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau is proud to nominate Dr. Charles Wiles for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Dr. Wiles of Cape Girardeau has been involved in major projects that have greatly enhanced the community where he lives and works while devoting himself to the state, national and worldwide reach of Optimist International, the fourth-largest service organization in the world with over 4,000 clubs...

Nominated by Drury Southwest Inc. Drury Southwest Inc. is proud to nominate Dennis Vollink for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Dennis is deserving of the Spirit of America Award because of his service to our country, dedication to education, and the betterment of the Cape Girardeau community...

Nominated by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 is proud to nominate Glenneta Vogelsang for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Glenneta joined the VFW Ladies Auxiliary on the eligibility of her husband, Calvin Vogelsang (deceased), a World War II veteran. She has been an active member for more than 50 years, dedicating her life to assisting veterans and their families, while raising her own four children...

Nominated by Steve Mosley Steve Mosley is proud to nominate Viney Mosley for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Since her (our) 3-year-old grandson, Levi Collom, died suddenly more than two years ago, Viney has channeled much of her ongoing grief into keeping Levi's legacy alive...

Nominated by Dianne Meyr Doloris embodies the spirit of our great nation by staying active in many different ways. She was instrumental in the organization of her husband's business, Harold Meyr Accounting Services, PC, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel in Cape Girardeau...

The Republican Women's Club is proud to nominate Mary Kasten for the prestigious Spirit of America Award. When not helping someone get a hand up, Mary can be found adorned in red, white and blue passing out copies of our nation's Constitution (which she buys herself). ...

Nominated by Noon Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau The Noon Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau is proud to nominate one of its own members, Billy Humphries, for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Billy's professional career, his military background, and his years of volunteer service are remarkable evidence of the attributes fostered by the Spirit of America award...

Nominated by Cape River Heritage Museum The Cape River Heritage Museum is proud to nominate Dr. John K. Holcomb for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Dr. John K. Holcomb demonstrates the Spirit of America as a family man, a veteran of the United States Navy during the Korean War, a beloved physician, and a lifetime booster of his hometown of Cape Girardeau...

Nominated by Old Town Cape Inc. Old Town Cape Inc. is proud to nominate Tom Higgins for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Tom Higgins is deserving of the Spirit of America Award because of his gentle, quiet but solid leadership and service toward improving our community...

Nominated by Tom Eftink of Eftink Auto Sales Tom Eftink is proud to nominate Eva Marie Dunn for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Eva was born in Marble Hill, Missouri, the second of 11 children. She graduated valedictorian from Leopold High School, and then graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau with a bachelor of arts degree in speech communication, minoring in music...

Nominated by Lisa Stewart Nancy Caldwell spent most of her life showing how much she loves her country and community. She was born in 1938, married Larry (a veteran) in 1962, and retired after 34 years of teaching physical education. She has a master's degree in education with a major in physical education and minor in biological science and social studies...

Nominated by Mayor Harry Rediger Mayor Harry Rediger is proud to nominate Jess Bolen for the prestigious Spirit of America award. Bolen has served the youth of our community 47 years through his leadership and management of the Cape Girardeau Capahas. His dedication to this effort is unprecedented. This will be a signature year for Jess and the Capahas and possibly its final year...

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

Mark Scherer, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Glen Junior Seabaugh, 68, of Golden, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at Cox Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born Dec. 29, 1945, in Perryville, Missouri, son of Glen and Elsie Smith Seabaugh. He graduated from high school in Cape Girardeau. He and Leslie Wood of Felton, California, were married April 22, 1967...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Clinton H. Rabold, 90, of Perryville died Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 24, 1923, in New Wells, son of Fred F. and Hilda Koenig Rabold. He and Rose M. Perr were married July 22, 1950...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Joseph Earl Cobb, 52, of Harrisburg, Illinois, passed away Monday, June 30, 2014, at Harrisburg Medical Center. He was born May 27, 1962, in Chaffee, to James Earl and Doris Mae Keller Cobb. He and Mary Lynn Brown were married June 6, 2011...

Harumi Sasaki Bounds, 63, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014, at her home surrounded by family. She was born Sept. 6, 1950, in Nagasaki, Japan, to the late Mitsuo and Masayo Sasaki. She and Emmett "Butch" Bounds Jr. were married March 27, 1974, in Sasebo, Japan...

BERNIE, Mo. -- A Bernie man is in the Stoddard County Jail on $50,000 cash-only bond after police were summoned to his home Saturday on West David Street. A caller told police the man was brandishing a samurai-type sword and was threatening to blow up the home...

New Madrid starter Jashawn McDaniel recorded the shutout in a 6-0 victory.

East- and westbound U.S. 60 in Stoddard County, from Route AH to County Road 789, will be reduced to one lane with a 16-foot width restriction as contractor crews make pavement repairs. The work will be performed from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily Tuesday through Sept. 2, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release...

Look! Up in the sky! It' a bird! It's a plane! No, it's fireworks! Jackson's display is at 9:30 p.m. Friday in City Park. Cape Girardeau blasts off at 9:15 p.m. Friday on the riverfront. Perryville will also have a display Friday night. See Page 2A for other July Fourth activities...

O Father God, we ask that you would keep your hand on our country. Amen.

LOS ANGELES -- Paul Mazursky, an innovative and versatile director who showed the absurdity of modern life in such movies as "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and "An Unmarried Woman," has died. He was 84. The filmmaker died of pulmonary cardiac arrest Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Mazursky's spokeswoman Nancy Willen...

NEW YORK -- The Hallmark TV channels are beginning a week's worth of holiday programming on the Fourth of July -- but think ornaments and egg nog instead of fireworks and hot dogs. The stunt on the Hallmark and Hallmark Movie channels begins Friday afternoon and continues into the early morning hours of July 15. Mostly, it will be repeats of the holiday movies that Hallmark traditionally airs during the last two months of the year...

LOS ANGELES -- An actor best known from the 1960s sitcom "McHale's Navy," has died. Bob Hastings was 89. Allison Knowles says her grandfather died Monday in his Burbank, California, home after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Hastings won fans on "McHale's Navy" as Lt. Carpenter, a bumbling yes-man. Other memorable roles were on "All in the Family" and "General Hospital."...

NEW YORK -- Singer Jewel and her husband are divorcing after a 16-year relationship. The 40-year-old writes in a letter posted on her website that she and Ty Murray want their separation "to be nothing less loving than the way we came together."...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Louis Zamperini, an Olympic distance runner and World War II veteran who survived 47 days on a raft in the Pacific after his bomber crashed, then endured two years in Japanese prison camps, has died. He was 97. Zamperini's death was confirmed by Universal Pictures studio spokesman Michael Moses. A family statement released early Thursday said Zamperini had been suffering from pneumonia...