W W W. S E M I S S O U R I A N . CO M
ESTABLISHED 1904, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. $2.00
REGION / 3A
GLAD GRADS
More than 1,300 earn degrees at Southeast’s commencement
Sunday May 15, 2016
Emergency c-section on dead mother saves baby
GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com
Artists rap selection policies for roundabout sculpture
First responders at an Interstate 55 crash performed CPR on woman’s lifeless body to keep her infant alive
BY MARK BLISS
BY BEN KLEINE
A decision to commission a sculpture for Cape Girardeau’s Fountain Street roundabout has sparked debate over the selection process among local artists. It also has focused attention on the structure of the city’s public art committee. The Cape Girardeau City Council without any real discussion approved a sculpture project and major improvements to Capaha Field last month as part of a partnership agreement with Southeast Missouri State University. The modern sculpture design was reviewed and approved by Mayor Harry Rediger, university president Carols Vargas-Aburto and the public art committee, those involved with the project said. The sculpture was designed by art committee member and Southeast Missouri State University art professor Chris Wubbena and will be created by Wubbena and art students at the university’s River Campus. The sculpture will be in the roundabout near the River Campus. It is expected to be installed by August 2017.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN A baby was saved from her mother’s lifeless body after a fatal wreck Wednesday morning on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau. Knowing the mother was dead, emergency personnel performed CPR to give the baby, Maddyson, a chance to live. Maddyson was out of critical condition by Friday afternoon, but it is uncertain whether the child suffered
brain damage due Wednesday mornto a lack of oxygen. ing. Sarah Iler died in Sarah Iler, 26, of the collision. The Cape Girardeau was mother-to-be, who trying her best to originally was from heed the doctor’s Poplar Bluff, Misadvice and carry souri, was headed Maddyson as long as to the hospital there possible. Sarah Iler because Maddys- Sarah Iler already was past her on’s birth was imoriginal due date of minent, according to her May 10, but she was petite sister, Kasandra Iler. Sarah and slender, and there was a Iler already was dilated, worry the baby was going to and that’s why she and her be born too small. Iler was husband, Matt Rider, were ready to be a mom, and that driving south on I-55 on was her focus, Kasandra
Iler said. Sarah Iler’s companion Wednesday morning was Rider. The couple had been estranged for awhile, but recently had reconciled. At 8:04 a.m. Wednesday, a tanker truck struck a Nissan sport utility vehicle that struck the vehicle Rider was driving, a red Chevrolet Blazer. The tanker truck barreled into the Blazer, pushing the SUV into the median. The Blazer overturned and threw Rider and Iler. Kan-
sandra said Iler was killed on impact, but firefighters and EMTs rushed to give Iler CPR in an effort to save her baby. Iler was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center, where an emergency cesarean section was performed. Maddyson immediately was put on a ventilator, Kasandra Iler said. Maddyson was born 4 pounds, 15 ounces — small enough she needed special treatment. See BABY, Page 15A
Proposed demolition of former Oran City Hall draws criticism BY BRIDGET BROWN
SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN ORAN, Mo. — Controversy is building around the old Oran City Hall, which is scheduled to be demolished this week. When the city services moved out of the building in November, the city council began discussing the fate of the building at 118 Mountain St. The council recently voted unanimously to demolish the building. In response to the announcement, current and former residents opposed the demolition through calls to city hall and messages on the city’s
WEB:
Facebook page. The building was constructed in 1941 as a project for the National Youth Administration, a program born out of the Works Progress Administration. The upper level of the $15,000 building was dedicated in 1942 and served as Oran’s city hall for over half a century. The basement served as the town jail. According to Oran Mayor Gary Senciboy, the building has been in disrepair for years, and the city lacks funds to pay for the work to bring the native See ORAN, Page 15A
GOOD TIMES / 1C
SOMETHING FISHY Bowfishing is a sport of skill, precision and camaraderie
LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissou-
semissourian.com
Weather alerts Be among the first to know about bad weather as it occurs. Sign up for our free breaking text and email alerts at semissourian.com/ textalerts.
INDEX
Classified......................1D Crossword ................... 3C Daily Record ...............6A
Local sculptor and Scott City High School art teacher Matt Miller criticized the selection process. He said he and See ART, Page 14A
Strange but true
Housebroken, half-ton bison for sale
Check out our latest collection of sports photos — including Jackson vs. Perryville baseball — at semoball.com/photo.
Obituaries....................6A Opinion ........................8A Speak Out ....................8A
A matter of debate
WEATHER
Prep sports galleries
Dear Abby ................... 8B Good Times ................. 1C Movie times ................ 8B
SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN
Sports............................ 1B TV listings .................... 8B
ARGYLE, Texas — An 8-year-old bison named Bullet has outgrown its Texas home, and the owner wants to find a new place for the 1,000-pound pet to roam. Karen Schoeve said Bullet occasionally is allowed inside the family’s house but needs more space and grassland. She said the bison is tame and housebroken. The family has posted a Craigslist ad listing Bullet as for sale for almost $6,000, as long as the new owner will allow the bison to continue interacting with people. — Associated Press
Volume 112 • Issue 191
H:68 L:47 Mostly sunny and cool Copyright © 2016 Rust Communications