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University announces retirement of Show Me Center director
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
Southeast Missouri State University announced the retirement of longtime Show Me Center director David Ross in a news release Thursday morning. According to the release, Ross' retirement is effective May 31 and assistant director of the Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts at the River Campus, Bob Cerchio, will serve as interim director while a national search is conducted...
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Fallert announces state Senate run
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- State Rep. Joe Fallert, D-Ste. Genevieve, announced on Thursday he will run for the Missouri Senate's 3rd District. If the picture doesn't change, that means a November race between him and the winner the Republican primary in August -- either Rep. Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau or Farmington, Mo., businessman Gary Romine...
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Jackson city government responds to annexation challenge
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
The city of Jackson will not back down on its 2009 annexation of property along Interstate 55 and U.S. 61. The city government issued a news release late Wednesday saying: "The City of Jackson stands by the 2009 annexation as both appropriate and legal. ...
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Cape County public administrator job draws three more hopefuls
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
The race for Cape Girardeau County public administrator got crowded Thursday, with three more candidates -- two Republicans and a Democrat -- saying they hope to replace the outgoing Phyllis Schwab. That brings the total to four, with all the candidates saying they know of a handful of others with their eye on the job of taking care of the county's 150 or so residents deemed unable to care for themselves...
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New Cape roundabout draws largely positive comments at hearing
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger had a warning for state transportation officials last week: Expect some "anti-roundabout" sentiments to be shared at Thursday's public hearing on the matter. Those concerns never seemed to materialize during the three-hour forum, as most of the comments -- at least the ones that were shared -- seemed to favor the proposed $1.7 million roundabout at the Lexington Avenue-Route W intersection...
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Jackson girls basketball team defeats Meadow Heights 41-32
(High School Sports ~ 02/17/12)
The Jackson girls used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Meadow Heights 41-32
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Mo. Senate backs college transfer credit library
(State News ~ 02/17/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate has approved legislation to make it easier for college students to transfer among public institutions. The proposal requires public college and universities to create a statewide library of 25 lower-level courses for which students could receive credit if they transferred to another Missouri school...
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More students sent home from Cape Central High School reporting flu-like symptoms
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
A phone rang in a high school office. "Cape Central Infirmary," answered Dr. Mike Cowan, high school principal. The office of Cape Girardeau Central High school looked similar to a hospital waiting room at times Wednesday and Thursday as students and staff came through its doors, reporting fevers, body aches and coughing.
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Ag officials search for Missouri century farms
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri farms that have been in the same family for at least 100 years are eligible for recognition. The University of Missouri Extension says farms that have been in the same family since Dec. 31, 1912, can be recognized this year. Applications must be postmarked by May 16...
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Flu season off to latest start in decades
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
ATLANTA (AP) -- Health officials say the flu season is finally here -- the slowest start in nearly 25 years. Until this month, there weren't enough flu cases in the U.S. to signal the start of the season. This is the latest start to a flu season since the winter of 1987-1988...
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Congress sends payroll tax bill to Obama
(National News ~ 02/17/12)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The GOP-controlled House passed legislation Friday renewing a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more, backing the main items on President Barack Obama's jobs agenda in a rare burst of Washington bipartisanship...
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Cape Friends of Wildlife meeting focuses on ways to get city council's attention
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
Leaders of a group opposed to urban deer hunting and members of the Deer Management Committee urged people Thursday night to contact city government officials about the issue. About 30 people attended the second meeting of the Cape Friends of Wildlife at the Public Library Thursday evening and learned how they could influence Cape Girardeau City Council members via letters and at Feb. 28 Deer Management Committee forum...
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Free options available for people filing tax returns
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
Taking advantage of free tax filing opportunities may help keep more of that refund in taxpayers' pockets. For the tech-savvy, websites exist for filing both federal and state income tax returns for free. People who prefer to sit down with someone have free options, too...
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Stoddard County fugitive captured
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County jail inmate who escaped custody Wednesday was captured at 3 p.m. Thursday near the Stoddard and Bollinger County line. Jason Stroup, 34, escaped when he walked out of a courtroom at the Stoddard County Justice Center shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday...
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Mo. Senate passes bill to delay candidacy filing
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Senate has voted to push back the state's candidacy filing period because of uncertainties over the boundaries for legislative districts. The filing period is set to begin Feb. 28. But the Senate voted unanimously Thursday to delay the start of the filing period until March 27...
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Mizzou conference to commemorate New Madrid quakes
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Scientists and historians will gather at the University of Missouri in Columbia on Saturday for a conference commemorating the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid earthquakes. The program is titled "It's Your Fault." The agenda includes presentations by scientists and historians who study the series of quakes that rocked the central and southern United States between December 1811 and February 1812...
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Mo. Supreme Court examines new U.S. House districts
(State News ~ 02/17/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The legal dispute over Missouri's new congressional districts is returning to the state's high court. The Missouri Supreme Court was to hear arguments Thursday in a pair of challenges claiming the redrawn U.S. House districts are not sufficiently compact. The state constitution requires congressional districts to be "as compact and as nearly equal in population as may be."...
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Cape Girardeau County Commission approves disbursement of funds for playground
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
County commissioners approved motions dealing with business of several county departments at its meeting Thursday along with a pay raise and promotion for an assistant county prosecuting attorney and release of funds for an all-accessible playground...
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Missouri bill would change sex offender regulations
(State News ~ 02/17/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri House member wants the state to change who is listed in its sex offender registry and what information is available about them. A bill sponsored by Republican Rodney Schad, of Versailles (vur-SAYLZ'), would exempt people from registering if they have been convicted of some non-contact offenses, such as indecent exposure. Only the names and information of people convicted of the most serious sex crimes would be listed on a state website...
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Today in History
(National News ~ 02/17/12)
Today is Friday, Feb. 17, the 48th day of 2012. There are 318 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Feb. 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon departed the White House with his wife, Pat, on a historic trip to China, which he called "a journey for peace."...
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ARTifacts 2/17/12
(Entertainment ~ 02/17/12)
The River City Players' first show of the 2012 season, "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" opens Friday at Port Cape Girardeau with a new menu. The Ed Graczyk comedy/drama will also be presented Feb. 25 and March 1 to 3. Call Port Cape at 334-0954 for reservations...
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McKendree Church to host concert for younger crowd
(Entertainment ~ 02/17/12)
Greg Franklin hopes to draw a younger crowd to New McKendree United Methodist Church with the upcoming concert by Christian recording artist Kerrie Roberts. She will be joined by local artist Kristin Schweain. The show Feb. 24 will be part of a series of concerts the church will host throughout the year. ...
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Speak Out 2/17/12
(Speak Out ~ 02/17/12)
I have been commenting for some time about the need to balance the federal budget. But it is becoming clear that there are more important things. Our president declared that we are no longer a Christian nation. He may be correct. More and more people are getting married outside without a church or minister. ...
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Good Samaritans
(Editorial ~ 02/17/12)
The Southeast Missourian has always striven to give an accurate portrayal of our community. The very nature of the news makes it difficult to find a balance between the importance of what is routine vs. what is unusual. For instance, a high profile crime is front-page news, partly because it's highly unusual (which is a good thing; many crimes that are "shocking" here are routine in much larger markets). ...
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Opening those long-packed memories
(Column ~ 02/17/12)
The hardest work I've ever done is cleaning out my mother's house after she moved to an assisted-living home. The second-hardest job I've ever completed is cleaning out our own basement. My mother's house was filled with 40-plus years of keeping almost everything, including nearly half a ton of canceled checks and bank statements dating back to the 1950s. You never know, she would say, when you might need something like that...
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Prayer 2/17/12
(Prayer ~ 02/17/12)
O Lord Jesus, may we look for ways to show kindness to others. Amen.
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Herman Arnzen
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Herman Arnzen, 74, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 21, 1937, in Marble Hill, Mo., to Ernest and Elizabeth Elfrink Arnzen. He was a 1955 graduate of Leopold High School. Herman and Betty Beussink were married May 3, 1958, at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Mo. They became members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson in 1958...
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Benjamin Steffens
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Benjamin K. Steffens, 37, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at his home. He was born Oct. 26, 1974, in Perryville, Mo., to Dale and Sally Lipe Steffens. Benjamin was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar, Mo., Nov. 10, 1974, and confirmed at Good Shepard in Carbondale, Ill...
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Marilyn Pritchett
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Marilyn Gail Miller Pritchett, 50, of Collierville, Tenn., formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Methodist Hospital in Germantown, Tenn. She is the daughter of Roger and Lou Christian Miller. Survivors include a daughter, Danielle; parents, Roger and Lou Miller; a sister, Melanie Miller; a niece, Hannah Miller, all of Collierville; and other adored family members and friends...
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Irene Burger
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Irene Burger, 96, of Scott City died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 4, 1916, in Hot Springs, Ark., to Sam B. and Mary Lou Wallis Adams. She married Fred Charles Burger June 27, 1949, in Hot Springs. He preceded her in death Feb. 15, 2000...
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Ruth Verseman
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
FARRAR, Mo. -- Ruth L. Verseman, 91, of Farrar died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She was born March 18, 1920, in Farrar, daughter of Henry C. and Ernestine Koenig Kassel. She and Edwin J. Verseman were married May 24, 1942. He preceded her in death Aug. 12, 1998...
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Thomas Brinkley
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Thomas Jefferson Brinkley, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Wednesday, Feb. 29, 1928, in Advance, Mo., to the late Ora and Helen Parrish Brinkley. Thomas was a corporal in the U.S. Air Force...
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Edward Flowers
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Edward E. Flowers, 82, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Portageville, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Landmark Hospital. He was born March 29, 1929, in Center Ridge, Ark., son of Arlie and Lona Bartlett Flowers. He and Nora Ann Robinson were married July 15, 1950, in Sikeston, Mo...
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Ella Pry
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Ella Jane Abernathy Pry, 99, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at her home. She was born Nov. 30, 1912, in the Ardeola community in Stoddard County, daughter of Jerome and Lizzie Summers Abernathy. She and Prentice Pry were married May 16, 1931, at Dexter, Mo. He preceded her in death March 18, 1995...
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Out of the past 2/17/12
(Out of the Past ~ 02/17/12)
Snow that blankets the area in the morning is expected to continue through the day but taper off this evening with one to three inches of accumulation. A combination of ice and snow was too much for a cable supporting the huge flag at the war memorial in Cape County Park yesterday afternoon; the cable snapped, bringing the flag to the ground; several passing motorists notified park superintendent Chet McCain and county officials; the flag was put away until the cable can be fixed...
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Paulette Jackson
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Paulette Jackson, 64, of Marble Hill died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at her home, following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Hurricane Fork General Baptist Church, with the Revs. Jerry Sanders and Jimmie Fulbright officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery...
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Donald Kelpe
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Donald Fredrick Henry "Don" Kelpe, 76, of Cape Girardeau went home to be with his heavenly father Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at his home. He was born Jan. 28, 1936, on the family farm in Cape Girardeau County, to Arthur L. and Helen Louise Bertling Kelpe. He was baptized and confirmed at Old Hanover Lutheran Church. He attended Old Hanover School and graduated from College High School...
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Caretaker facing manslaughter charges waives prelim hearing
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
The woman charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of a woman she was paid to take care of at all times waived her preliminary hearing Thursday. Sherri Gail Coomer, 53, is charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 23 death of 80-year-old Patricia Joan Langston...
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Disabilities board, VIP trial date moved to March
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
A trial date between the county disabilities board and VIP Industries has been moved to March 5 because of a scheduling conflict with the judge.
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Would-be bomber gets life sentence in 'day of victory'
(National News ~ 02/17/12)
DETROIT -- A federal judge ordered life in prison Thursday for a young Nigerian man who turned away from a privileged life and tried to blow up a packed international flight with a bomb concealed in his underwear. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has said he was on a suicide mission for al-Qaida. Four months ago, he pleaded guilty to all charges related to Northwest Airlines Flight 253. He defended his actions as rooted in the Muslim holy book, the Quran...
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U.N. sees possible crimes against humanity in Syria
(International News ~ 02/17/12)
BEIRUT -- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused the Syrian regime of committing "almost certain" crimes against humanity Thursday as activists reported fresh violence and the arrest of several prominent dissidents, including a U.S.-born blogger...
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Post office: $18B loss without cuts, rate increase
(National News ~ 02/17/12)
WASHINGTON -- Mired in red ink, the U.S. Postal Service is warning it will lose as much as $18.2 billion a year by 2015 unless Congress grants it new leeway to eliminate Saturday delivery, slow first-class mail by one day and raise the price of a postage stamp by as much as 5 cents...
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Curb the car dashboard tech, government asks
(National News ~ 02/17/12)
WASHINGTON -- Auto dashboards are becoming an arcade of text messages, GPS images, phone calls and web surfing, the government says, and it's asking carmakers to curb those distractions when vehicles are moving. Manufacturers have been loading up higher-end vehicles with an array of built-in gadgets in an effort to tempt car buyers who want to multitask behind the wheel in today's increasingly connected society. ...
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Dorothy Gibbs
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Dorothy Gibbs, 90 of Scott City died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at her son's home in Scott City. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.
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Births 2/17/12
(Births ~ 02/17/12)
Son to Jerimy D. and Janice Lynn Ferguson of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 6:31 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. Name, Rohman Alekzander. Weight, 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Ferguson is the former Janice Allen, daughter of the late Margaret Allen and the late William Palmer of Cave-In-Rock, Ill. She is a medical technologist at Southeast...
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Dr. Mike Brown
(Obituary ~ 02/17/12)
Dr. Mike J. Brown, 72, of Englewood, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with Paul Short officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park with full military honors to be conducted...
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Cape Girardeau fire report 2/17/12
(Police/Fire Report ~ 02/17/12)
Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...
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Cape Girardeau police report 2/17/12
(Police/Fire Report ~ 02/17/12)
The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Southeast Missouri State University The Department of Public Safety released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...
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Mo. officials investigating website breach
(State News ~ 02/17/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Officials are investigating how war scenes were placed on Missouri's state government website. The state Office of Administration said Thursday that images of graphic war scenes were placed on the official website -- www.mo.gov -- on Thursday. Officials say the images have been removed and that the website was taken offline for about a half-hour as an additional precaution starting at 10 a.m. The website was brought back online at 10:37 a.m...
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House speaker says payroll tax bill won't aid U.S. economy much
(National News ~ 02/17/12)
WASHINGTON -- A compromise bill extending a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed should be enacted, but it's not going to help the economy much, House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday. Boehner, R-Ohio, made the remarks hours after bipartisan congressional bargainers announced agreement on legislation extending those provisions through 2012 and heading off a steep cut in reimbursements for physicians who treat Medicare patients. ...
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Blues bands performing at Port Cape
(Entertainment ~ 02/17/12)
With Mardi Gras approaching and thoughts of the Deep South fun floating around, fans of blues music will hear an early treat Saturday.
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Blues recover from loss, whip Islanders 5-1
(Professional Sports ~ 02/17/12)
ST. LOUIS -- Alex Pietrangelo and the St. Louis Blues were eager to get back to work after a loss Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio. "It's a great answer after that game in Columbus," Pietrangelo said after picking up three assists in a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night...
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Six local wrestlers win opening matches at state
(High School Sports ~ 02/17/12)
Four Jackson wrestlers won their Class 4 first-round matches at the Missouri Wrestling Championships in Columbia, Mo., on Thursday. Notre Dame saw two of its four representatives advance with pins in Class 2 action, while Central's lone representative lost his opening match in Class 3...
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High school roundup: Kelly girls basketball team records 52-49 victory against Delta
(High School Sports ~ 02/17/12)
All the local high school events reported Thursday to the Southeast Missourian.
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Southeast Missouri State roundup: Ex-Redhawks lineman to play in Arena Football League
(College Sports ~ 02/17/12)
News from around the world of Southeast Missouri State athletics.
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An extra hour for art
(Entertainment ~ 02/17/12)
The arts community has added an after-hours party and you're invited. The ARound Town group will start naming a featured gallery each month beginning with March. The chosen gallery will stay open an extra hour or more on First Friday to allow guests more time to visit...
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Best bet: Early Mardi Gras events
(Entertainment ~ 02/17/12)
Although Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 21, this year, several local venues will give Southeast Missourians the opportunity to start the celebration early. On Friday, The Venue Event Center will have its third annual Mardi Gras Bash and Daytimer Lounge will get in the spirit with music by Renegade Sound System. ...
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Fire that killed 355 exposes dysfunction, chaos in Honduras
(International News ~ 02/17/12)
COMAYAGUA, Honduras -- Six guards, 800-plus prisoners in 10 cellblocks, one set of keys. The numbers spelled disaster when fire tore through a prison and 355 people died, many yet to even be charged with a crime, much less convicted. The deadliest prison blaze in a century has exposed just how deep government dysfunction and confusion go in Honduras, a small Central American country with the world's highest murder rate...
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Hearing on Highway 34 project scheduled
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing from 4 to 7 p.m. March 1 to discuss improvements to Highway 34 in Bollinger County. The hearing will be held at the Woodland Elementary School gym in Marble Hill. ...
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Bloomsdale weigh station to be closed
(Local News ~ 02/17/12)
BLOOMSDALE, Mo. -- The Bloomsdale weigh station on Interstate 55 north in Ste. Genevieve County will be closed next week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make pavement repairs. Weather permitting, work will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday and conclude by 3:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636 or visit www.modot.org/southeast...
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Ohio Valley Conference announces divisional alignment for basketball
(College Sports ~ 02/17/12)
The Ohio Valley Conference announced its plan for divisional play for men's and women's basketball Thursday, beginning with the 2012-13 academic year. The recent addition of Belmont will give the OVC 12 members, the largest the conference has been since it was formed in 1948...
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Beck among Southeast Missouri State basketball women's team's seniors saying farewell
(College Sports ~ 02/17/12)
Bianca Beck experienced nothing but team success in high school while playing for a powerful Incarnate Word Academy program in suburban St. Louis. Beck has found wins hard to come by at Southeast Missouri State, but the Redhawks' senior point guard said she has no regrets as her college basketball career nears its end...
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Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team faces long trip this weekend
(College Sports ~ 02/17/12)
The Southeast men will travel to McNeese State for their BracketBusters contest
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'The Pajama Game' promises pure fun
(Entertainment ~ 02/17/12)
It is a classic battle of the sexes. It is also a battle over a 7 1/2-cent pay raise. Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance will bring George Abbott's fast-paced farce "The Pajama Game" to the main stage in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus...
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Good Samaritan: unknown
(Submitted Story ~ 02/17/12)
I was taking a young friend to the movies one Saturday afternoon. As I got to the box office I couldn't find my wallet in my purse. I stepped out of line as I searched in vain. I told my young friend that we would have to return to my house to search there, when a gentleman approached and asked if he could buy our tickets for us so that we could attend. ...
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Good Samaritan: Melissa Whitaker/Marcus LeGrand
(Submitted Story ~ 02/17/12)
These are my two best friends. They have not performed one specific deed but I wish to recognize them for deeds too numerous to count or mention. They are ALWAYS there for me regardless of circumstance. They always provide a shoulder for me to cry on in time of need. They've offered me shelter when needed it. Anything they can do for me they have. There is A LOT of patience, understand and unconditional love from them I will ALWAYS apppreciate and never be forgotten!...
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Good Samaritan: Unknown
(Submitted Story ~ 02/17/12)
I am the manager of the ReStore. I was at the front desk on Feb 10th when a lady customer came in and told me she had found some money outside the stoe. I told her that I would let her know if someone told me they had lost some money. About five minuets later a lady came up to pay for a mattress and box springs, but she could not find her money. ...
Stories from Friday, February 17, 2012
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