Stories from Monday, June 29, 2015

No one was injured, but fire damaged a Cape Girardeau house Sunday afternoon. Cape Girardeau firefighters have not identified what caused the fire at 2390 Cheetah Lane. Neighbors alerted firefighters about 4 p.m. about heavy smoke from the rear of the home...

For Brenda Harris, a bus driver at the Jackson School District, the best part of her job is helping students have a positive start and end to their school day. "I love that we can give them a little bit of hope for the day, some inspiration for these kids' lives, because we don't know what they go home to at night," she said. ...

ORAN, Mo. -- Because the Oran Park Board reallocated funds used for grass-cutting two years ago, board members have made significant changes to the George Tilles Jr. Memorial Park. In the southwest part of town, the park is home to the city's baseball, softball and teeball fields as well as a playground, basketball court and batting cages...

Saturday marked the first day of allowed sales and use of fireworks this season in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. As people load up on sparklers and firecrackers, public safety officials remind everyone to observe a few safety precautions and be aware of city ordinances...

The rising senior earned the honor for the second consecutive season and seeks a big finish to her high school softball career this fall.

An emergency call brought Jackson police, a SWAT team and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to a home Sunday night in uptown Jackson. A man called police and said a man had been killed inside a residence at the 500 block of Nellie Street. But when police arrived, the only person inside was a woman who said she had no idea what was going on...

Floodwaters remain over several area roadways as the Mississippi River water levels continue to fluctuate. As of 7 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St Louis District Report showed a water level of 41.9 feet. That's a decrease of 0.2 feet from Saturday but still much higher than the flood stage of 32 feet...

On Saturday, June 20th, The Cape Girardeau Roller Girls took on Decatur, Illinois' Prairieland Punishers All Stars at the AC Brase Arena in Cape Girardeau. CGRG last played the Punishers in 2013 where PPRD took the win 165-109. Like in 2013, this year's game proved to be a hard fought battle loaded with big hits, strong blocking, and exciting jams! CGRG initially took the lead, but in the end fell to the Punishers 113-170. ...

Coaches Jacob Westbrooks and DJ Choice talk game strategy with the Cape Girardeau Roller Girls during their June 20th game vs Prairieland Punishers. Check out the roller girls on July 25th at AC Brase Arena at 6pm as they take on Dark River Derby Coalition...

Juanita Thompson, Sandy Nagel, Susan Allison, Allison Goodman, and Zoey Goodman

Today is Monday, June 29, the 180th day of 2015. There are 185 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On June 29, 1767, Britain approved the Townshend Revenue Act, which imposed import duties on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper and tea shipped to the American colonies. (Colonists bitterly protested, prompting Parliament to repeal the duties -- except for tea.)...

WASHINGTON -- Monsanto Co. reported better-than-expected earnings results for the third quarter Wednesday as executives continued to pursue a $45 billion takeover of Swiss competitor, Syngenta AG. Company results on a per-share basis rose to $2.39 on stronger revenue from crop chemicals, compared with results of $1.62 per share in the prior-year period...

SHANGHAI -- Police in China's financial hub Shanghai took away at least three busloads of environmental protesters outside the municipal government Saturday, preventing the latest rally that started with a rumor a petrochemical plant could move into the area...

NEW YORK -- Slim one-room gyms are in, and the low cost of starting them is turning gym rats and workout instructors into entrepreneurs. There are no Olympic-sized pools, rows of treadmills or steam rooms in these small fitness studios. Instead, devotees sweat through hour-long classes in tiny spaces, swinging heavy kettlebells or practicing yoga poses. ...

NEW YORK -- Charter is trying to convince the government consumers will benefit if it is allowed to create a cable giant through its proposed $67.1 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House. It is seeking government approval after regulators' concerns led Comcast to scrap its $45 billion bid for Time Warner Cable in April...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As teachers lament seeing toddlers too large to fit in playground swings, a federal program that feeds millions of low-income children may be overhauled for the first time in almost 50 years, aiming to make the meals at day cares healthier and reduce obesity...

Besides roll call votes, the Senate and House also took action on legislation by voice vote. The Senate also passed the Veteran's I.D. Card Act (H.R. 91), to issue, upon request, veteran's identification cards to military veterans. The House also passed the Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act (H.R. 1646), to require Homeland Security to research ways that small and medium-sized drones could be used in a terrorist attack, and ways to prevent or mitigate such attacks...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Hundreds of thousands of people Sunday packed gay pride events from Chicago to St. Louis to New York City, with overall attendance expected in the millions for what amounted to a celebration of a freshly endorsed right to marry. In San Francisco, a parade that at times resembled a rainbow-colored dance party snaked through downtown...

NEW YORK -- Chris Squire, the bassist and co-founder of the progressive rock band Yes who recently announced he had leukemia, has died, according to a statement from his band members Sunday. He was 67. The band posted a statement on its Facebook page saying Squire "peacefully passed away" Saturday in Phoenix, where he lived...

CAMERON, Mo. -- A pilot has died from injuries sustained when his biplane crashed as he was performing at a northwest Missouri airshow, authorities said Sunday. The Cameron Police Department identified the pilot as Steven O'Berg, 50, of Smithville, Missouri, and said his family was asking for privacy to "grieve their loss."...

Edith Marie Mehrle Eggers, 87, of Jackson passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at her home. Edith was born November 8, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Werner and Zetta Unger Mehrle. On Sept. 29, 1950, Edith married William M. Eggers. He preceded her in death on May 9, 1996...

Michael Dale Hines, 38, a resident of Cape Girardeau for the past 15 years and a former resident of the New Columbia community in Massac County, Illinois, passed away Saturday afternoon, June 27, 2015, at 12:18 at Southeast Missouri Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- An annual effort to help save the endangered pallid sturgeon brought biologists from across the state to Neosho, where they tagged 3,300 of the fish to prepare them for release into the Missouri River. Thirteen fish biologists tagged the pallid sturgeon at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery in a joint venture of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment Project. It is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is set to be the first state in the nation to spell out the type of eating disorder treatments that insurance companies must cover, a move advocates say will ensure families have access to care for not just the physical aspect, but also the underlying mental issues...

Beatrice Redman Stauffer, 93, a resident of the Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau and formerly of Sikeston, Missouri, passed away June 27, 2015, in the skilled nursing care center at the Chateau Girardeau. She was born Sept. 7, 1921, in Advance, Missouri. ...

Chris Brown screamed loudly, Nicki Minaj whipped out her phone to record the moment, and Laverne Cox was teary-eyed as Janet Jackson entered the stage at the BET Awards. The pop star was honored Sunday with the Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award as she made one of her first public performances in sometime as she readies a new album and tour this fall...

Cape Girardeau's parks department is upgrading in a significant way, with expansions coming very soon to the public. The department is currently focusing on Capaha Park, a speed slide at Cape Splash and the Red House Interpretive Center. Capaha Park will receive a new playground and pavilion that holds 100, from which the playground is easily visible. ...

Economic adviser; Gave girl a gun; Domestic extremists; Bootheel thinking; Where apples fall; Weedy road; Obamacare popularity; Biased reaction

MALONE, N.Y. -- The second of two convicted murderers who staged a brazen escape three weeks ago from a maximum-security prison in northern New York was shot and captured near the Canadian border on Sunday, two days after his fellow inmate was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement, authorities said...

The Cardinals defeated the Cubs 4-1 to sweep the three-game series.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. -- Illinois State Police say a 52-year-old man suspected of firing shots at a state trooper has been arrested. State Police say Gregory K. Nelson of East St. Louis is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. ...

WICHITA, Kan. -- A federal judge won't punish a judge who didn't show up for jury duty in federal court. Sedgwick County District Judge Michael Hoelscher failed to appear for jury duty June 15. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren wrote in an order Friday he believes judges and other public officials should comply with laws with which they expect others to comply. But Melgren withdrew his earlier order requiring Hoelscher to show cause for not appearing...

An unmanned SpaceX rocket carrying supplies to the International Space Station broke apart Sunday shortly after liftoff. It was a blow to NASA, the third cargo mission to fail in eight months. The accident happened about 2*½ minutes into the flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. ...

Scott Roe, David Prasanphanich, Pat Godwin and Steve Wendling shot a 58 for a one-stroke victory in the Friends of Kathy Swan tournament, a four-person scramble, at Dalhousie Golf Club. The team of Dave Berry, Richard Moore, John Wiemann and Eli Glass placed second with a 59, winning a scorecard playoff with the team of Bill Morrow, Aaron Dombrowski and Dan Gilham...

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia is likely to make his next start Thursday against the White Sox, getting two extra days to recover from a groin cramp he sustained running the bases. -- AP St. Louis, which leads the majors with a 50-24 record, has a day off today and manager Mike Matheny said he'll use Lance Lynn and John Lackey on regular rest ahead of Garcia...

Area cities received business-license applications from several fireworks vendors as the July 4 holiday nears. Sales of fireworks to the public began Saturday. In Cape Girardeau, an Alabama company, TNT Fireworks, has tents set up in the parking lots of Kmart and Wal-Mart Supercenter. ...

Dr. Alan Jones, doctor of dental surgery, recently joined the staff of Cross Trails Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Jones joins a team of dentists that includes Dr. Louis Rohlfs, Dr. Leigh Wilson and Dr. Christine Schoolman. The team provides general dental services to the community, according to a news release from the medical center...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Paul N. Ham, 40, of Cape Girardeau was issued a summons for driving while intoxicated at the intersection of Spanish and Themis streets...

JACKSON The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Denise D. McMahan, 25, of Perryville, Missouri, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. Thefts n Theft was reported in the 800 block of Eastview Court...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Thursday. n Medical assist calls were made at 7:32 a.m. on Brenda Kay Road; 10:08 a.m. on South Silver Springs Road; 1:03 p.m. on Delwin Avenue; 4:56 p.m. on South West End Boulevard; 6:54 p.m. on Cape Meadows Circle; and 10:29 p.m. on South West End Boulevard...

Groundbreaking ceremonies are held in the morning for a Missouri Division of Youth Services group home on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University; those attending include Gov. John Ashcroft and state Rep. Al Nilges, chairman of the Missouri House Appropriations Committee, as well as youth services officials and advisory board members...

Lord Jesus, may we be a vessel to spread the good news of salvation through you. Amen.