Stories from Friday, April 17, 2015

For anyone who has ever wondered what it was like to see the Beatles, tribute band the Return is coming to Cape Girardeau this weekend to recreate the giddy effervescence of the band's early years. Richard Stelling, Shane Landers, Michael Fulop and Adam Thurston will perform as John, Paul, George and Ringo respectively for back-to-back shows Saturday at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers would be able to hire defense attorneys under a measure modified in response to a lawsuit filed by a liberal advocacy group against the Senate and three Republican senators over alleged violations of the state's open records law...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A proposal to raise Missouri's fuel tax for the first time in two decades appears unlikely to move forward this session, Missouri Senate leaders said Thursday, despite warnings from transportation officials about the future of the state's infrastructure...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri's Roman Catholic leaders are pressing anew for the abolishment of the state's "flawed" system of capital punishment, expressing concern at the rapid recent pace of executions and questioning whether last-minute clemency requests get proper consideration...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The "American Ninja Warriors" TV show has arrived in Kansas City. The Kansas City Star reported the first group of competitors will take on the show's obstacle course tonight at the city's Union Station. The top 30 or so will move on to what's known as the city finals on Saturday night. The best of the batch will go to the finals in Las Vegas...

FISK, Mo. -- Two Butler County deputies escaped serious injury Tuesday afternoon when a Broseley, Missouri, man allegedly attempted to strike them with his truck after a high-speed chase, which ended near a river slough and led to a foot pursuit. "We had a pursuit with [Sammie Loyal Redmon] approximately a week ago on a county road; we ended up losing him," Butler County Lt. Charles Phelps said. "He's wanted on several warrants and has charges pending in Stoddard County."...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A former teacher is charged with possessing child pornography. Online court records show a warrant was issued Tuesday charging Amy R. Walker, 36, of Lilbourn, Missouri, with felony possession of child pornography. In a probable-cause statement filed by New Madrid County Sheriff deputy Danny J. ...

Larry Tidd places fresh daffodils out for customers at Gene and Kathy Dillow's stand Thursday during the first day of the Cape Girardeau Farmers Market. Cape Riverfront Market kicks off its season May 2 and Jackson Farmers Market plans to start May 5 at its new location at the train station near the intersection of Highway 25 and U.S. 61. (Laura Simon)...

Walk MS will be held Sunday by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at Capaha Park. Organizers hope the fundraiser brings in $25,000 for the society and expect about 250 people to walk, according to a news release. Registration will be from noon to 1 p.m. with the walk from 1 to 3 p.m. One-, 3- and 6-mile route options will be available, the release said...

Cape Girardeau's Historic Preservation Commission is gearing up for Historic Preservation Month in May with a familiar event and a new competition. The commission's annual walking tour will begin at 5:30 p.m. May 1 at the southwest corner of Broadway and Frederick Street. This year, the tour will focus on historic structures along Frederick and conclude at the Cape River Heritage Museum, 538 Independence St., which will offer refreshments and historic displays...

OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO -- A blanket of fog lifts, exposing a band of rainbow sheen that stretches for miles off the coast of Louisiana. From the vantage point of an airplane, it's easy to see gas bubbles in the slick that mark the spot where an oil platform toppled during a 2004 hurricane, triggering what might be the longest-running commercial oil spill ever to pollute the Gulf of Mexico...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More than 3,000 low-income Missouri families could lose monthly welfare assistance under a measure heading to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon for consideration, the first such bill approved by lawmakers this year among a number aimed at trimming social services...

The number of properties added to the Endangered Buildings list this year nearly doubled from last year's numbers, largely thanks to the number of first-time submissions for several buildings. From former storefronts to personal homes, the buildings on the list vary in history, purpose and level of deterioration...

The North won the Civil War, the South lost, and Missouri was somewhere in the middle. Southeast Missouri State University's annual Harold Holmes Dugger lecture, presented by Christopher Phillips on Thursday night, examined the complex and sometimes contradictory cultural and political tides that emerged in the wake of the Civil War...

Stories of perseverance, hard work and faith were shared Thursday evening as 32 Adult Education and Literacy program participants attended a graduation ceremony. Having completed their high school equivalency through the program, 104 graduates were invited to the ceremony at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center...

This past February, Girl Scout Brownies of Troop 70038 decided to host the "I love books" book drive as a community service project. It was important to show the girls they have the power to make a positive impact on our community, regardless of their age or size. ...

From April 11-14, nearly 4,500 students grades 5-12, college students, and advisers, descended upon Springfield, MO for the Missouri Future Business Leaders of America -- Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference. Oran High School had 11 students in attendance, under the direction and support of adviser, Natalie Ries...

The men and women of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Missouri wore their new chicken aprons for the annual chicken dinner on April 12. Wanda Gerler embroidered 75 aprons; roosters for men and hens for women.

It is not too late to register for Walk MS! Several hundred people are expected to raise more than $40,000 to support cutting-edge research and life-changing programs and services for people living with MS at the 27th Annual Walk MS event taking place on April 19th at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Walk MS, is an opportunity for people living with MS and those who care about them to connect and join together to be inspired and raise critical funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society...

Big Al's Nite Club 20-year reunion was held April 4 at The Venue in Cape Girardeau. A fundraiser was held during the event ant $1,300 was donated St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Shown from left: Kirby Ray, Rachel Cook, Big Al Bisher and Mike Renick...

Big Al's Nite Club held a 20-year Reunion on April 4 at The Venue in Cape Girardeau. During the events, a fundraiser was held for Ovarian Cancer Research in Memphis, Tennessee abnd $1,300 was collected. Shown are: Kirby Ray, Rachel Cook, Big Al Bisher, DeeDee Wilson, Tysha Bortner and Mike Renick...

Today is Friday, April 17, the 107th day of 2015. There are 258 days left in the year. Today[[OpenSingle]]s Highlight in History: On April 17, 1975, Cambodia[[OpenSingle]]s five-year war ended as the capital Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, which instituted brutal, radical policies that claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives until the regime was overthrown in 1979...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Eldo L. Eaker, 93, of Zalma passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Advance Nursing Center. He was born July 19, 1921, at Sank, Missouri, son of Melvin Andrew and Elizabeth Hawn Eaker. He and Lucy Belle Shell were married April 30, 1948, in Piggott, Arkansas...

Redia Edna Sebastian, 88, of Jackson passed away Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Monticello House. She was born June 27, 1926, in Whitewater, daughter of Alva and Minnie Nance Crader. She and Herbert P. Sebastian were married June 27, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Juanita Sells, 73, of Fredericktown passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 17, 1941, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, a daughter of Vard and Lula Cobb Phelps. She and Harold Sells were married Nov. 18, 1962, in Poplar Bluff...

Pauline E. Bess, 90, of Cape Girardeau departed this life Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico, Missouri. She was born Aug. 3, 1924, in Advance, Missouri, daughter of Oma Nelson and Frank and Louella Gunter. She and Jack Bess were married May 30, 1942. He preceded her in death June 8, 2014...

Son to Blake Linley Farris and Katie Micah Culver of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 5:33 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Name, Wyatt James. Weight, 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Second son. Ms. Culver is the daughter of Mike and Tina Culver of Cape Girardeau. She is a CNA at Chateau Girardeau. Farris is the son of Lisa Linley of Jackson and Walter Farris of Branson, Missouri. He is a maintenance worker at Outback Steakhouse...

SANAA, Yemen -- Al-Qaida seized control of a major airport, a sea port and an oil terminal in southern Yemen on Thursday, consolidating its hold on the country's largest province amid wider chaos pitting Shiite rebels against forces loyal to the exiled president and a Saudi-led air campaign...

TOPEKA, Kan. -- A new Kansas law tells poor families that they can't use cash assistance from the state to attend concerts, get tattoos, see a psychic or buy lingerie. The list of don'ts runs to several dozen items. More than 20 other states have such lists. But the one included by the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature in a bill signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback appears to be the most exhaustive, according to state Department for Children and Families officials...

WASHINGTON -- The Florida postal carrier charged Thursday with two federal crimes for steering his small gyrocopter through protected Washington airspace "literally flew under the radar" to the lawn of the Capitol, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said as key lawmakers raised alarms about security risks...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis starter John Lackey had little trouble with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. He threw seven scoreless innings and benefited from two Matt Carpenter doubles in helping the Cardinals to a 4-0 victory over the Brewers...

People have many reasons for joining the military. To some, the U.S. Armed Forces offer an opportunity to pursue action and adventure while traveling the world. To others, becoming servicemen or -women is a family tradition, while some crave the camaraderie. For most, it's an opportunity to participate in a larger calling, to protect freedom and country...

Michelle Steimle of Delta submitted this photo of her tattoo by A Different Drummer Tattoo Studio. "Jeep -- what I enjoy doing with my husband, family and friends. Star -- honor my dad and all army military. Flowers -- represent my two daughters and myself. Passion -- without passion, there is not love," she said of her tattoo's meaning. (Photo submitted by Michelle Steimle)...

Major kudos to the SEMO Sundancers. They are ranked eighth nationally and will take part in the finals for the first time since 2007. History will show that the SEMO Sundancers led the way in the revival and eventual domination of all SEMO sports. To ward off another nasty east side-west side split similar to the dispute over the location of the Show Me Center, I propose half be built in downtown Cape and the other half near the West Park Mall. ...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Wednesday: n Medical assist calls were made to: North Sprigg Street at 3:16 a.m.; Belleridge Pike at 1:22 p.m.; Lisa Drive at 3:07 p.m.; North Main Street at 5:14 p.m.; and South Henderson Avenue at 10:27 p.m...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n A suspect was in custody pending formal charges of driving while intoxicated. n A 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl were cited into juvenile court for assault...

Blend, an a cappella, four-man singing group, will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 235 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The group performs doo-wop hits from the 1950s and 1960s, and also will present some country and gospel music. There is no charge, but free-will offerings will be accepted...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri recently received a grant of $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will help the council to assist in funding the 2016 and 2017 Cape Girardeau outdoor sculpture exhibits on Broadway. After the success of the inaugural exhibit in 2014, another yearlong show opened earlier this month. ...

Four exhibitions of works created by emerging artists in Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Art will be on display during the 2015 Graduating Seniors Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibitions at the River Campus Art Gallery. "This spring we have four, one-week shows for the BFA exhibitions so that each graduating senior has plenty of room to display the body of work they developed throughout their last two semesters of coursework in their area of specialization," Kristin Powers Nowlin, gallery coordinator, said in a news release.. ...

Several area groups will collaborate later this month to perform one of the most famous pieces of music in the world. The Southeast Missouri Symphony, University Choir and Choral Union, in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Symphony and the Southern Illinois University--Carbondale Choir, will perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on April 27 at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus...

The Russian National Ballet Theatre will once again perform "The Sleeping Beauty" at 7:30 p.m. April 24 in the Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. "The Sleeping Beauty" is considered the world-renowned theater company's finest achievement of the classical ballet, according to information from the university...

More than once in my life I have attempted, with the best of intentions, to keep a diary, a daily journal of anything and everything I might think to jot down at any given time. I thought of my diary attempts -- all failed, of course -- as I tried to remember this week if it's time to put out the hummingbird feeders. I know the migrating birds are sending scouts this direction. It seems like mid-April is the time to begin the sugar-water hospitality campaign...

ST. LOUIS -- Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba gave Minnesota a two-goal lead through two periods and the Wild kept chances to a minimum for Devan Dubnyk, opening the playoffs strong with a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen scored in the third period for the Central Division champion Blues, but too little and too late. Game 2 is Saturday...

The Notre Dame baseball team defeated Marshall County, Kentucky, in a baseball game Thursday, but that's not the story.

Westbound traffic lanes at William Street and Kingshighway will close today or tomorrow, depending on the weather; work at that intersection will include the installation of larger culverts under William on Walker Creek, part of a flood-control project...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Thursday.

O Hosanna in the highest, praises be to you, our God. Amen.