Local News

Last fall, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau transitioned to being a dementia-friendly congregation and at 7 p.m. Thursday it's hosting a community-driven "praise sing," with proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Westminster pastor Karen Dumey said last year the church designed its worship service to be "very comfortable for people with dementia and Alzheimer's."...

Several people became overheated while enduring a lengthy wait to enter the Cape Splash water park Saturday, Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation director Julia Jones said. Temperatures reached the mid-90s over the weekend. On Saturday, the thermometer hit 95 degrees, and with high humidity, the heat index or feel-like temperature topped out at 101 degrees, according to the National Weather Service...

Southeast Missouri State University plans to spend $150,000 with an Ohio company to “refresh” its brand without seeking proposals from other firms. School officials said Monday the move is both legal and prudent even though the university has had to cut spending in other areas...

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday to increase city funding for the local animal shelter. Council members without comment unanimously approved a 3 percent increase in funding to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri for animal boarding, care and disposal...

A mother pushing her child in a stroller were reportedly backed into by a driver near the corner of Washington Avenue and Middle Street during a block party Saturday afternoon in Cape Girardeau, according to witnesses and local law enforcement. “From what I understand, right now, a car was backing up down the street and backed into a mom pushing a stroller,” Cape Girardeau Fire Department battalion chief Brad Dillow said at the scene. ...

Adults and children of all ages made their way to the River Campus on Saturday for the fifth annual Summer Arts Festival. It was a day celebrated with live music, performances, exhibitions and concessions. One of the many free performances available in the Cultural Arts Center Atrium was the River City Players presenting bits from the upcoming summer comedy “White Lies,” set to debut July 12...

A new facility houses the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, and it celebrated with an open house Friday. SEMO-NASV is a not-for-profit, regional child advocacy and rape crisis center, and provides forensic interviews and exams, advocacy and case management for a nine-county area, according to the organization’s Facebook page...

Restaurant owners may see unannounced health inspections as inconvenient, but the inspections can play a vital role in helping to keep patrons safe in Southeast Missouri. Cape Girardeau County health inspector Natalie Govreau said the county has its own food and beverage ordinance, and “we can be stricter” than the state’s food code...

Study session Communications/reports n City council n Staff Items for discussion n Planning and Zoning Commission report n Appearances regarding items not listed on the agenda...

Public Hearings n Hearing to consider a request for the rezoning of 311 N. High St. and 308 N. Missouri St. (including the former 315 N. High St.) from R-2 (single-family residential) district and C-2 (general commercial) district to C-3 (central business) district, as submitted by Cape Girardeau County...

Communications/reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on the agenda Routine business n Purchase orders n Payroll change forms n Recorder of Deeds fee report for the month of May 2018...

Her sun-washed kitchen evokes an ice-cream parlor with its white walls and black-and-white checkerboard floor, but the rolling tool chest and stainless-steel industrial cart start to tell more of Becky Brown’s Cakes Reanimated story. Brown has worked as a professional in-home baker of special-occasion cakes for six years, and along the way, she’s accumulated clients — and a lot of specialty equipment...

Zach Walter and Chandler Doughten, 20 and both from Jackson, completed the annual 260-mile competition known as the Texas Water Safari on Wednesday, with a total time of 84 hours and 45 minutes. The race started at 9 a.m. June 9 — stretching from the San Marcos River to the bay at Seadrift, Texas — with 140 teams participating...

Attorneys Mark Welker and William Bryant will compete for Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney in the Aug. 7 Republican primary election. The winner will be unopposed in the November general election. Welker of Cape Girardeau announced his candidacy last week after Prosecutor Chris Limbaugh said he would resign to take a position as general counsel to Gov. Mike Parson...

The president of Southeast Missouri State University has a new, three-year contract, which keeps his salary and annuity at the current level, school officials said Friday. The Board of Regents voted to offer the contract to president Carlos Vargas-Aburto earlier this week...

A Cape Girardeau firefighter was struck by falling debris while battling a house fire Thursday. The firefighter was wearing full protective gear, including his helmet, fire officials said. He was transported to a hospital where he was evaluated and released, according to the fire department...

Former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has resigned from a leadership position with a federal agency, concluding his position was not needed and a waste of tax dollars. He said Friday he will continue to live in his hometown of Cape Girardeau and plans to take a job in the private sector. He said he is not ready to disclose that job, but the employment opportunity factored into his decision to leave the federal agency...

The Cape Girardeau County FCE Council met on June 7 at the University of Missouri Extension Office. Mary Klaproth, president, presided over the meeting. Linda Thompson, member of Town and Country FCE Club, gave the devotion, "No Prayer Goes Unheard." JoAnn Hahs, in the absence of the secretary, Agnes Wachter, read the minutes. Jean Rehak gave the treasurer's report which is on file...

Southeast Missouri State University wants nearly $13.6 million in state funding to renovate the more-than-century-old Art Building, the second oldest building on the school's main campus. University president Carlos Vargas-Aburto told the board of regents earlier this week the project is the school's top priority for capital improvements...

Micheal Curry sits in the back room of 707 Broadway, where his new business, Fingerprint Urban Dance Studio, is housed. He's in front of a brick wall painted dusky gray. It'll be home to a graffiti mural, painted by a local artist, he said, opposite a desk where he'll handle billing and scheduling...

In the last three weeks, several businesses on or near Siemers Drive have reported smoke in the building in separate incidents. Cape Girardeau fire chief Rick Ennis called this an "unusual" situation, and Ameren Missouri said the three incidents each were caused by distinct circumstances...

Route K in Perry County reduced for bridge maintenance Route K in Perry County will be reduced to one lane between County Road 616 and Route O as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform maintenance to a bridge over Apple Creek. The work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday...

The City of Scott City issued a boil water order Wednesday afternoon, in effect for residents east of Ruth Avenue and First Street East (wards 3 and 4) to boil their water as a precautionary measure. The boil order will remain in effect until further notice...

"Legally Blonde Jr." the musical -- featuring an all-children cast and family-friendly storyline -- opens this week as part of the 2018 River Campus Summer Arts Festival. This particular rendition of "Legally Blonde" is a simplified workshop production, according to stage manager Thomas Gilman and director Holly Lynn, because it will be performed by a younger cast between 10 and 15 years old...

Gov. Mike Parson touted the need for workforce development, better roads and improved broadband services in rural Missouri during a visit Wednesday to the Southeast Missouri State University farm near Gordonville. "We have to do something about infrastructure in Missouri," Parson told a crowd of about 60 farmers, representatives of business, area lawmakers and Republican Party faithful gathered at the university's David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center...

Route DD in Bollinger County closed for culvert replacement Route DD in Bollinger County, between County Road 804 and County Road 805, will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace pipe under the roadway. A MoDOT news release states the work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday...

Pete Johnson with Cotner Electric installs a new light-emitting diode (LED) light fixture Wednesday above Broadway near Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau. The new lights will improve illumination of the street directionally 180 degrees and use about one-third the electricity as the former metal halide lights. The city is replacing 58 lights between Pacific and Spanish streets. Cotner submitted the low bid of just more than $94,000 to be paid by the transportation trust fund sales tax money...

Three MIssouri teens sustained serious injuries when their northbound car on Interstate 55 struck a cable barrier and overturned Wednesday afternoon at the 68-mile marker in Scott County, the Standard Democrat reported. Dean Connor, 17, of East Prairie and Ethan Newman, 17, of Sikeston were transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, while Cody Newman, 19, of Sikeston was flown to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Traffic was halted for more than an hour...

Missouri auditor candidate Kevin Roach wants more transparency in government at all levels statewide. Too many government records are not easily accessible to the public, Roach said during a visit Wednesday to Cape Girardeau. "We have over 3,700 government entities in Missouri," he said, adding the state ranks seventh in the nation in the number of government entities operating in the state...

Cape Girardeau’s first Zaxby’s — a fast food chain restaurant offering a variety of chicken — hatched Monday. Franchisee Chip Hults said he opened his first Zaxby’s in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2009 alongside long-time business partner Chris Manwell. The Cape Girardeau location is his ninth, he said, after opening a Zaxby’s in Sikeston, Missouri, two months ago...

The Missouri Department of Conservation is taking action to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, in deer populations, by expanding its CWD management zone from 41 to 48 counties. The zone will now include Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties...

Southeast Missouri State University plans to spend $151 million to educate students in fiscal 2019 under a budget approved Tuesday by the school’s board of regents. Regents unanimously adopted a $114 million operating budget, and a $37 million budget for operation of residence halls, Show Me Center and other auxiliary services designed to be self supporting...

After months of working to restructure and streamline academic departments and colleges in an effort to reduce expenses to meet a potential budget shortfall, Southeast Missouri State University has created five new colleges. The changes will take effect Aug. 1...

Jackson city crews will be flushing the fire hydrant and water distribution system from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily until the program is complete, the city announced Tuesday. Fire department crews flush water mains and hydrants once a year to remove mineral sediment that builds up in the pipes, a release stated — this helps improve water quality and maintain the valves and hydrants in the system...

An adult film actress embroiled in a legal battle with President Donald Trump will visit The Pony in East Cape Girardeau on Sunday. Stormy Daniels will perform at The Pony strip club on Father’s Day and be available for meet and greets, according to a recent news release...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Authorities say a highly intoxicated Brick's Off-Road Park patron died after being severely beaten inside the park Saturday night by the parents of a young boy he was accused of physically striking. Joe Girard of Oak Ridge was killed during the eighth annual Trucks Gone Wild event, which ran from Thursday through Sunday at the County Road 484 park...

Marty Carter catches a tiny bluegill Tuesday at the Capaha Park lagoon in Cape Girardeau. Carter, owner of a lawn service, quit for the day when a soaking rainstorm moved through. "When I can't mow, I go fishing," he said. His brother, Shon Carter, witnessed the catch before the two decided to pack it in.

While taking an evening walk Tuesday evening, Nancy Aguinaga pauses as LuRay decides to take a dip in the fountain at Ivers Square in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Neal Boyd, who rose to stardom with his robust, operatic voice, died Sunday night at his mother’s home in Sikeston, Missouri, where he had been struggling with numerous health problems. He was 42. Scott County Coroner Scott Amick said Boyd died at 6:26 p.m. Boyd’s mother found him unresponsive and he was pronounced dead at the scene, Amick said. Amick said Boyd died of natural causes...

“Yeah, I know Marcellus too. ...” Marcellus Jones was popular enough Buckner’s put his name on a T-shirt. That legend is how Josh Lynn first encountered Marcellus Jones, or Cellus, as he was known to many friends. Jones died unexpectedly over the weekend of natural causes. He was 50 years old...

A former employee of a private probation company in Cape Girardeau County will serve five years probation after circuit Judge Ben Lewis suspended imposition of sentence Monday. Candi Ayers, 45, pleaded guilty last month to felony stealing after police said she stole money from Private Correctional Services’ clients she supervised...

Kylondrea Deberry, left, and Kimberly Dozier react to a butterfly Monday at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

A pavilion full of people and their pooches was the sight Saturday morning in Capaha Park during the second annual Bark for Life event, which benefits the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The event raised nearly $4,000 last year and this year’s goal is $5,000, said Pris Mabuce, event organizer and a cancer survivor...

Southeast Missouri State University River Campus officially kicks off its 2018 Summer Arts Festival season Thursday, with a performance of “Little Shop of Horrors: The Musical,” with “The 39 Steps” and “Legally Blonde Jr.” opening Friday, followed by a day full of art, music, performances and concessions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday...

Dan Overbey has watched the barges, trucks and train cars come and go at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port for 25 years. As executive director, Overbey has overseen growing operations at the Mississippi River port near Scott City. But he said he’s finally ready to retire, which is set to occur June 30...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department received a report about 11:20 a.m. Sunday of a man masturbating in the woods near the Cape LaCroix Trail, according to public-information officer Rick Schmidt. The incident occurred behind Quality Car Wash at 1354 N. Mount Auburn Road, between the Osage Centre and Hopper Road, Schmidt said. Witnesses who spoke with police at the scene described the suspect as a Hispanic man wearing a red shirt and tight khaki pants...

Approval of minutes n Minutes of June 7 meeting Communications/reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on the agenda Routine business...

The Clippard Wilson Taylor Auxiliary 3838 met May 14 with President Dale Humphries presiding. A petition for new membership was presented by David Gerard Holstein, Pamela Snipley and Madison Jackson. The investigating committee gave a report and all were accepted. ...

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh is stepping down as prosecutor to take a position as the top lawyer in the office of Gov. Mike Parson. Limbaugh said he is “ecstatic to help out the governor and move things forward in the state.” Limbaugh filed a petition in circuit court Thursday seeking a court order to withdraw as a candidate in the August primary. Limbaugh had been seeking re-election and was unopposed. ...

Traffic was temporarily rerouted in uptown Jackson on Friday to make way for the filming of Southeast Missouri native Nick Murphy’s 1990s-themed production “All Nite Skate.” Friday wasn’t the first day of filming, but it was one of the first few to happen in Jackson. The crew, volunteers and actors have been filming at the Puxico Skating Rink before making their way to Southeast Missouri for the weekend...