Stories from Saturday, December 31, 2016

A Cape Girardeau man was arrested Thursday at a pawnshop on Class C felony charges of second-degree burglary and receiving stolen property in connection with a theft at a home he was helping to remodel, a Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputy said...

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder remembers when Democrats were the political heavyweights at the state Capitol in the 1990s and for decades earlier. Republicans, he said, were a "permanent minority." Democrats held most of the political offices in Southeast Missouri, too...

Today in History Today is Saturday, Dec. 31, the 366th and final day of 2016. Today's Highlight in History: On Dec. 31, 1946, President Harry S. Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II. On this date: In 1775, during the Revolutionary War, the British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec; Montgomery was killed...

Starting tomorrow, a new smoke-free policy at hospitals across the nation -- including Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital here -- will go into effect; employees, visitors and patients may no longer smoke in hospitals; health care facilities risk losing accreditation unless they comply with the new policy...

Jolynn Von Hasseln, 45, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at Southeast Hospital. There will be no services. Arrangements were handled by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Sharon Fulcher, 80, of Villa Ridge died Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at Anna Nursing and Rehabilitation in Anna, Illinois. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Cairo, Illinois.

Billy Jack Foust, 89, of Gordonville died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 9, 1927, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to Newton and Bessie Helton Foust. He and Betty J. Rose were married Nov. 30, 1947, at Mount Vernon, Illinois. She preceded him in death Oct. 13, 1988...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Lillian Nesbitt Butler, 102, a resident of the Daystar Care Center in Cairo, formerly of Pulaski, Illinois, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at her home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at St. John Praise and Worship Center in Pulaski...

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- John D. Blanton, PhD., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at age 89. John was born Jan. 23, 1927, in St. Louis to Harry C. and Maureen Daily Blanton. He was the grandson of Charles Lee Blanton, who was owner/editor of the Sikeston (Missouri) Standard...

A Cape Girardeau woman, who was arrested Friday on drug and traffic charges, attempted to conceal methamphetamine by placing it in her vagina, a Scott City police officer said. Shanda Berry, 34, of 16 N. Henderson Ave. was arrested on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of driving while license was revoked and exceeding the speed limit...

A fire damaged Sonic Drive-in restaurant at 1764 N. Kingshighway on Friday, forcing it to close, a Cape Girardeau Fire Department official said. Firefighters were called to the scene at 6:38 a.m., said Capt. Shawn Morris. Restaurant employees were getting ready to cook breakfast meals when the fire broke out behind one of the fryers, Morris said...

Firefighters with the Cape Girardeau and Gordonville work the scene of a house fire Friday afternoon at 232 S. Forester Drive in Cape Girardeau County. No one was in the house when firefighters arrived, Cape Girardeau Fire Capt. Shawn Morris said. The fire caused "very extensive damage," Morris said...

W.F. “Pat” McKee, area educator and respected political leader, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at Southeast Hospital. He was 92 years old. He was born Aug. 27, 1924, in Springdale, Arkansas, and moved to Whitewater when he was 5 years old. He lived in Cape Girardeau for 54 years. He graduated from Illmo High School and Southeast Missouri State University with a master’s degree in educational administration...