Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens may be in a crowded field as a Republican running for Missouri governor in 2016, but he has no problem telling people how he stands out from that crowd. For starters, Greitens says he considers his bid for the state's highest office a mission, rather than a campaign...

Notre Dame dropped a 25-22 decision in the opening set but bounced back by winning 27-25 in the second set and 25-21 in the third to come away with a crucial win at home over its Class 3 District 1 rival.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- For 38 years, a few black-and-white photographs of a nurse cradling a baby provided comfort to a woman who suffered terrible burns and years of playground taunts and painful surgeries thereafter. For all that time, until Tuesday, she dreamed of meeting her again...

The missing boater whose body was recovered Monday afternoon from the Diversion Channel has been identified. The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the man as Brian Ourth, 57, from Chaffee, Missouri, according to the drowning incident report. Ourth was operating a trolling motor and fell overboard into the water, the report said. This matches the account from two fishermen who said they heard a splash and a cry for help, then saw the man go beneath the surface, before calling 911...

There's a buzz of excitement at Southeast Missouri State University, as students and staff look forward to changes and additions coming to dining services on campus. As part of a contract approved earlier this year by Southeast officials, Chartwells Dining Services is investing more than $6.5 million at the university to enhance programs and renovate facilities...

A Cape Girardeau man accused of firing a weapon at a vehicle in April is facing additional charges after allegedly bribing a witness not to testify against him. Brandon L. King, 28, was arraigned Monday on charges of tampering with a witness. King, who was being held on an unlawful use of a weapon charge in the April incident, bonded out of jail Sept. 15, online court records show...

65th Reunion Central High School L-R Joyce Blattner, Jean Black, Glenda Wunderlich, Barbara Neader, Rosetta Davis, Jeanne Brown, Peggy Fassel, and Pansy Howell

This is from the Southeast Missouri Redhawks and Shorter Univerity game on 9-26

Sunday September 27, 2015 Super Blood Moon

The Scott County R-IV (Kelly) School District is pleased to announce its continued partnership with the Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. Kelly Schools is raising funds for Dig For Life, which provides free mammograms to women in Southeast Missouri. ...

Juanita Mays Daume, a resident at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau, was honored with a surprise birthday party for her 89th birthday September 18, 2015, in the Family Dining Room of the facility. Pizza and Dairy Queen cake were served in her honor. ...

Today is Wednesday, September 30, the 273rd day of 2015. There are 92 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On September 30, 1955, actor James Dean, 24, was killed in a two-car collision near Cholame, California. On this date: In 1399, England's King Richard II was deposed by Parliament; he was succeeded by his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke, who was crowned as King Henry IV...

Pope Francis is back safe and sound in the Vatican after leaving his leftist message in America. And this week, the focus falls on the United Nations and their leftist message. Housed in America and funded largely by American taxpayers, the United Nations in so many ways is the enemy within...

When Riley Knight, a senior at Cape Girardeau Central High School, was pulled into the school office, she wondered what she had done wrong. Why else would the principal, vice principal, counselor and teacher all need to speak with her in the room that is often used to reprimand students? As it turned out, Knight was there to be praised for being named a semifinalist for the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government announced sanctions Tuesday against 25 people and five groups connected to the Islamic State, disclosing intelligence that depicts a sprawling organization with tentacles across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The moves by the Treasury and State departments are aimed at disrupting the activities of Islamic State financial, logistical and recruiting operatives who may not be suitable targets of American bombs or drone strikes. ...

WASHINGTON -- The government has largely failed to stop more than 250 Americans who have traveled overseas since 2011 to join or tried to join terrorist groups, including the Islamic State group, a new congressional study concluded Tuesday. It did not provide details on the several dozen who have sneaked back into the United States without being arrested or monitored...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Republican presidential Chris Christie got a boost in Iowa Tuesday when six major Republican donors and activists wooed by other GOP candidates declared they were sticking with the New Jersey governor despite his lag in the polls...

WASHINGTON -- Having dodged the immediate threat of a government shutdown, congressional Republican leaders are looking ahead to talks with President Barack Obama on a long-term budget pact. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday he and House Speaker John Boehner spoke with Obama recently, and he expects talks to get underway soon...

WASHINGTON -- The head of Planned Parenthood defended the women's health organization Tuesday before a Republican-run Congress bent on slashing its federal funding, telling lawmakers that accusations against her group fed by stealthily recorded videos are "offensive and categorically untrue."...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A day after a strategic northern city fell to the Taliban, the insurgents fanned out in full force Tuesday, closing roads, throwing up checkpoints and torching government buildings as fearful residents huddled indoors amid signs a promised Afghan counteroffensive was faltering...

UNITED NATIONS -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged all possible tools -- military, intelligence and economic -- to defeat the Islamic State group, but acknowledged the extremist group has taken root in Syria and Iraq, is resilient and continues to expand...

WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules Tuesday to reduce toxic air pollution from oil refineries by forcing operators to adopt new technology that monitors and controls emissions better. The rules will require for the first time that refineries install air monitors along "fence lines" where pollution enters neighboring communities. ...

WASHINGTON -- Stunned and divided, House Republicans sought a way forward Tuesday as Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy pledged to bring them together after Speaker John Boehner's sudden resignation. The five-term California Republican moved aggressively to lock up support to move into Congress' top job, second in line to the presidency. ...

NEW YORK -- Ask a roomful of people to take out their phones, and you're bound to see several with cracked screens. Despite engineering breakthroughs, screen breakage has become a part of life, the leading type of phone damage. In part, we're to blame. We want phones that are bigger, yet thinner, offsetting strides made in strengthening glass. We also want phones to be sleek: A phone that's rugged enough to withstand drops just won't match what we expect smartphones to look and feel like...

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- After a friend recommended he join a secret Google project six years ago, Brian Torcellini suddenly found himself on the road to an occupational oxymoron. He became a driver in a driverless car. Torcellini, 31, leads a crew of test, or "safety," drivers who are legally required to ride in Google's fleet of 48 robot cars. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After falling short of the legislative votes needed to enact a right-to-work law, supporters of the measure are launching an advertising campaign in hopes of pressuring Republican lawmakers who oppose it to switch sides and help Missouri become the 26th state to bar mandatory union fees...

WASHINGTON -- In stock car racing, there's an old adage: If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'. You could say the same sometimes for automakers up against stricter environmental rules. Volkswagen is far from the first company to stand accused of trying to game required emissions tests. ...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Royal Dutch Shell's decision to end its quest for oil in the Arctic waters off Alaska sparked jubilation among environmental activists, who said Tuesday they will seize the opportunity to seek an end to all drilling in the region...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Columbia's century-old first power plant is out of the coal business. The city's municipal power plant burned its last load of coal Sept. 22, joining a growing number of small, aging coal-fired units across the country that have stopped burning the fossil fuel, largely because of tighter environmental regulations on emissions...

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- People in the Kansas City region may soon feel the bite as favorable weather and environmental conditions have led to a boom in the oak leaf itch mite population. According to horticulture agent Dennis Patton, The Kansas State Extension office reports it has fielded its highest number of mite-related calls in 10 years. The Kansas City Star reported horticulture Patton has described the reproduction levels as hitting "epidemic proportions."...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis' mayor says police will be out in full force near Busch Stadium as the Cardinals enter the postseason, after a fan was shot and possibly paralyzed after a game. Mayor Francis Slay said he will give police chief Sam Dotson "unlimited overtime" to put more police on the streets. He said he was concerned about "a higher level of boldness" by criminals who show little regard for consequences...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department will present "Protecting Your Business" at October's First Friday Coffee. Doors open at 7 a.m. for a continental breakfast at the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center. The program will begin at 7:40 a.m. This month's sponsors are Drury Hotels and Soto Property Solutions...

Son to Marcus Antonio and Syreetta Renay Marable of Tamms, Illinois, Saint Francis Medical Center, 9:29 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. Name, Marcus Antonio Jr. Weight, 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Marable is the former Syreetta Johnson, daughter of Cheryl Poindexter of Pulaski, Illinois, and Izeal Johnson of Gary, Indiana...

The Jackson Police Department reported the following items. Arrest does not imply guilt. n John N. Swofford, 32, of Caruthersville, Missouri, was arrested on a Jackson warrant for failure to appear. n An assault reported in the 200 block of Henderson Street...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department reported the following items. Arrest does not imply guilt. n Khristian Tumbleson, no age given, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, no driver's license and failure to drive in a single lane...

Norman Lee "Pete" Whitson, 72, of Jackson died Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Funeral Home-Jackson. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in New Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau...

McBRIDE, Mo. -- Richard Karl Westbrook, 60, of McBride died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. A private memorial service will be at a later date. Young and Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Perryville, Missouri, provided the arrangements...

Brian Keith Ourth, 57, of Delta passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, near Scott City. He was born May 17, 1958, in Cape Girardeau to the late Gregory Martin and Grace Mae Biby Ourth. He married Genni Miller on Nov. 5, 1999; she survives. Brian was the owner and operator of Brian Ourth Tree Service. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved the outdoors, where he spent a majority of his time with his son, Hunter...

William H. "Bill" Needham, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, at the Missouri Veterans Home. He was born March 26, 1932, in Ullin, Illinois, to Clifford Earl and Minnie Rose Carter Needham. Bill was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the Navy...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Frances Sue Moran, 65, of Medford, Oregon, formerly of Charleston, passed away Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. She was born Feb. 3, 1950, to the late James B. and Louise Atteberry Moran. Fran was a 1968 graduate of Charleston High School and the University of Missouri in 1972...

Rosemary Gambill, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, at her home. A rosary will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Roger D. Cox Sr., 63, of Perryville died Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at Estates of Perryville. He was a United States Navy veteran of the Vietnam era. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until time of service Saturday at Young and Sons Funeral Home...

All scores were reported to the Southeast Missourian on Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH -- The St. Louis Cardinals have to wait at least one more day to break out the champagne after rain postponed Tuesday night's game in Pittsburgh. Considering the rest of the good news that greeted the team with the best record in the majors on Tuesday, the Cardinals can handle the wait...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk and backup tackle Malik Cuellar have been suspended indefinitely by the school for violating team rules and will not participate in the Tigers' (3-1, 0-1 SEC) home game against South Carolina (2-2, 0-2) Saturday...

ST. LOUIS -- Police are investigating after a driver was shot by someone in another vehicle while stopped in a St. Louis street near Carondelet Park. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the 24-year-old victim was injured Sunday evening. According to police, the victim honked at a vehicle stopped at a stop sign, before the other driver waved for him to go around. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Authorities say a man is recovering after being shot and wounded while driving on a freeway in St. Louis. St. Louis police say the 25-year-old victim was shot in the buttocks about 11 p.m. Sunday while driving near where interstates 44 and 55 split. ...

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- A lone tree likely saved the life of a van driver after the vehicle plunged over a tall cliff in Hannibal -- but failed to fall to the ground several hundred feet below after slamming into the tree. The Hannibal Courier-Post reported the incident happened Sunday. ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Billings man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for receiving and distributing child pornography. The Springfield News-Leader reported 22-year-old James McClelland was sentenced Monday. He had pleaded guilty to child-pornography charges. ...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Police in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon say three boys are believed to be responsible for spray-painting offensive drawings, swastikas and other graffiti on dozens of vehicles, garage doors, mail boxes and driveways. All told, there were 46 victims in the Monticello subdivision of O'Fallon on the morning of Sept. ...

SANFORD, Fla. -- A monkey that escaped its owner's home in an Orlando, Florida, suburb chewed on its neighbors' mail, pulled molding off a police car and rocked back and forth on a street sign. Zeek eventually was caught when his owner returned home a short time later. Sanford police officers responded to the neighborhood Monday morning after a neighbor called to report a monkey was eating mail out of a mailbox. Zeek jumped on the officers' squad car and pulled molding off the roof...

BALTIMORE -- The first trial in the case against six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray will be held Nov. 30, and the other trials are set for early next year. Judge Barry Williams decided Tuesday officer William Porter, one of three officers to check on Gray after he was put in a police van, will stand trial first. ...

NEW YORK -- Pharrell Williams and his book publisher have launched a "Happy" campaign for young readers. Along with Penguin Young Readers, the singer has joined with FirstBook, a not-for-profit literacy organization, to donate up to 50,000 books to children in low-income families. ...

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the Great Physician and healer. Amen.

John McMullen, a pharmacist at Medicare Pharmacy for 18 years, is president of the just-opened John's Pharmacy, 2001 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau; McMullen's assistant pharmacists are Walter Eck and Breck Bartmess. Included in the New Vision of Excellence Capital Campaign launched Saturday are plans for improvements to Southeast Missouri State University's football complex and Houck Stadium; university officials hope the campaign will yield $1.6 million to make improvements to the school's athletic facilities.. ...