Stories from Thursday, March 1, 2018

When it comes to fast food, the pizza thing, the burger thing, both of them get old, said Charles Wilson, owner of Dogg Hutt Express hot-dog cart -- but a hot-dog cart, now that is something a little different. Wilson's new venture will combine the sights and scents of an open-air eatery with all the fixings, he said...

A former employee of a private probation company in Cape Girardeau has been charged with felony stealing after police said she stole money from clients she supervised. Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh filed one count of Class D felony stealing last week against Candi Ayers, 45, of Cape Girardeau...

There are many places to get a steak around town, and honestly, I consider myself a local steak neophyte (a problem worth remedying). My pick, for a second week in a row, is 36 Main. No, they are not sponsoring me, and yes, I have enjoyed steaks at other places in town such as Celebrations and Texas Road House. ...

Franklin Elementary School and the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau will both be welcoming new administrators this fall, the school district's central office announced Wednesday. April Garner will leave her position as principal at Scott City Elementary to take on the new role at Franklin, she said Wednesday...

After some changes in building plans, it can be said: Coming soon, Harbor Freight Tools. The retail business is once again on a steady pace to open its newest location in Town Plaza, which previously was a five-screen movie theater. The project is progressing and picking up speed after revisions to the initial plan required a new building permit...

Today is Thursday, March 1, the 60th day of 2018. There are 305 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On March 1, 1790, President George Washington signed a measure authorizing the first United States Census. (Census Day was Aug. 2, 1790.)...

We give lots of attention to high school students for their athletic and academic pursuits. Whether it's covering games and profiling athletes, or featuring merit scholar award winners or valedictorians and listing honor rolls, a lot of praise and well-deserved attention is given to those who excel in the arenas of sport and academics...

On Jan. 30,1968, the Viet Cong guerrillas (VC) supported by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attacked South Vietnamese and U.S. installations as well as the five largest cities in South Vietnam. The scope and speed of the attacks caused the VC and NVA to capture many cities including the old capital of Hue (pronounced "way"). ...

BEIRUT -- The Russia-ordered brief humanitarian pause was in effect for a second day Wednesday in rebel-held Damascus suburbs, but no civilians used the corridor manned by Syrian and Russian forces to leave the enclave. Government forces, meanwhile, tried to push their way into the area, setting off ground battles...

CAIRO -- Egypt's chief prosecutor told his staff Wednesday to closely monitor the media and move against any they consider to be "hurting national interests," the latest move by authorities to suppress any dissenting voices ahead of elections seen as virtually a one-man race ensuring the re-election of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi...

PATTAYA, Thailand -- A Belarusian woman jailed in Thailand for offering sex lessons without a work permit says she has a story to tell involving the Kremlin, Russian billionaires and even the president of the United States. Anastasia Vashukevich, whose extraordinary claims and racy selfies have propelled her to internet fame in recent weeks, told The Associated Press from a police van Wednesday she fears for her life and wants to exchange information on alleged Russian ties to Donald Trump's campaign for her own personal safety. ...

WASHINGTON -- White House senior adviser Jared Kushner has lost his access to the nation's deepest secrets. His credibility as a negotiator may be next. Kushner's loss of his top-secret clearance could be particularly problematic in his role overseeing the Trump administration's efforts to produce Mideast peace...

ELLISVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi state lawmaker Chris McDaniel, who lost a bitter Republican primary to the state's senior U.S. senator in 2014, said Wednesday he is challenging the state's other Republican senator, Roger Wicker. The tea party-backed McDaniel casts himself as a conservative defender of constitutional rights and limited government and Wicker as a "liberal" beholden to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and big-money special interests. ...

WASHINGTON -- They were all dressed in basic black robes, but the Supreme Court's nine justices had a serious discussion about fashion Wednesday as they heard arguments over a Minnesota law barring voters from wearing political clothing to the polls...

WASHINGTON -- Harshly criticized yet again by his boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday abandoned his usual stony silence and pushed back against President Donald Trump for saying Sessions' response to Republican complaints about the FBI was "disgraceful."...

WASHINGTON -- Putting fellow Republicans in the hot seat, President Donald Trump called for speedy and substantial changes to the nation's gun laws on Wednesday, criticizing lawmakers in a White House meeting for being too fearful of the National Rifle Association to take action...

WASHINGTON -- White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of President Donald Trump's most trusted and longest-serving aides, abruptly announced her resignation Wednesday, leaving a void around a president who values loyalty and affirmation...

ATLANTA -- A social studies teacher barricaded himself inside a classroom at a Georgia high school Wednesday and fired a handgun, sending students running outside or hunkering down in darkened gym locker rooms, authorities said. No Dalton High School students were in the classroom when the teacher fired the weapon, and despite the chaotic lockdown and evacuation, the only injury was a student who hurt her ankle running away...

ATLANTA -- Georgia's governor on Wednesday criticized the "unbecoming squabble" engulfing the state Capitol since fellow Republicans threatened to punish Delta Air Lines for cutting business ties with the National Rifle Association. Gov. Nathan Deal, serving his final year in office, broke his silence on the controversy during a news conference with an apparent jab at candidates running to succeed him. ...

Tenants of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport terminal building will have to operate out of their temporary offices for a while longer; the completion of the long-awaited terminal building renovation project has been pushed back to April 17. For the second consecutive meeting, the Cape Girardeau City Council refuses to approve spending city money to study the feasibility of converting St. ...

LEXINGTON, N.C. -- The former North Carolina sheriff known for painting his jail cells pink and hosting a cable television show before pleading guilty to felony obstruction of justice announced on Wednesday he wants his old job back. Local news outlets report former Davidson County Sheriff Gerald Hege used Facebook to announce his plans to run for office. Hege tried to win the seat in 2010 but lost in a GOP primary to current Sheriff David Grice...

Donna Jean Sprenger, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at Life Care Center. She was born Oct. 24, 1946, in Cape Girardeau to Alfred E. and Geraldine Kraft Sprenger. She is survived by two sisters, Barbara Vinson of Benton, Missouri, and Verna Mae (James) Ramsey of Jefferson City, Missouri; nieces and nephews, Richard Upchurch, Kevin (Julie) Upchurch, Missy (Don) Jones, Jamie (Brian) Eads and Josh Ramsey; 11 great-nieces and -nephews; 19 great-great-nieces and -nephews; two aunts, Marilyn Rowe and Judy Masters; and an uncle, Harold Kraft.. ...

Nelda Ludwig, 100, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 12, 1918, in Fruitland, daughter of Theodor "Pete" and Bertha "Betty" A. Pfeiffer Leimer. She and Ervin Ludwig married Aug. 27, 1944. He passed away Nov. 15, 1998...

Bonnie L. Emerson, 66, of Scott City, formerly of Perryville, Missouri, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, at her home. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Randal Poole officiating...

Teresa Elaine Cureton, 54, of Marble Hill, Missouri, died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, at her home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hutchings Funeral Home in Marble Hill. Funeral will be at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Monday. Burial will follow in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill...

Alex "Tyrone" Bowen, 41, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, at Pettis County Assisted Living in Sedalia, Missouri. He was born April 8, 1976, in Rome, Georgia, to Charlie and Jennie Helen Kent Bowen. He attended Cape Girardeau Central High School...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Phyllis Allison, 80, of Olive Branch, formerly of Streator, Illinois, died at 4:46 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Phyllis was born Feb. 21, 1938, in Dixon, Illinois, the daughter of Wilbur Leigh and Mable Pearl Schuler Stauffer. She and Wilbur Allison married March 30, 1996...

CHICAGO -- American Airlines said Wednesday it's opposed to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $8.5 billion O'Hare International Airport expansion plan because of what American called a "secret provision" inserted at the last minute to award more gates to United Airlines, which is based in the Windy City...

A Cape Girardeau man picked up more than groceries on a recent trip to Schnucks Supermarket in Cape Girardeau. Leonard Sample also picked up a Missouri Lottery "50X The Cash" Scratchers ticket that turned out to be worth $100,000. Sample claimed his prize on Feb. 23 at the Missouri Lottery's St. Louis office...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today Approval of minutes n Minutes of Feb. 26 meeting Communications/reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on the agenda Routine business...

Many thanks to Mark Bliss for eliciting comments from area state legislators on the sordid Governor Greitens sags. I was pleased that two called for his resignation, saddened that one didn't and not surprised that another did not respond to the Southeast Missourian's request for comment...

Lord Jesus, we worship you for you are the way, the truth and the life. Amen.

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Tuesday n Medical assists were made at 8:09 a.m. on Pioneer Drive; 2:53 p.m. on South Kingshighway; 3:45 p.m. on Corporate Circle; 5:52 p.m. on Oxford Drive; and 9:18 p.m. on Towers Circle...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Robert Turner, 38, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on Scott County (Missouri) and State of Missouri warrants. n Benny Benavente Jr., 30, of Jackson was arrested on a Chaffee, Missouri, warrant...

A one-eyed raccoon is seen Wednesday walking along Old Hopper Road in Cape Girardeau. It seemed to be doing well enough to stare down our photographer.

[March 1, 2018] Lynette Halter has been named partner at H&R Block, in Jackson and Marble Hill, Mo. Lynette has been an associate with the firm for the past 25 years, concentrating her practice in personal and business tax returns and planning. She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and is a licensed Enrolled Agent...

United Way of Southeast Missouri is excited to announce that The Bank of Missouri raised over $24,000 for the 2017 campaign. With over 10 locations in the United Way service area, The Bank of Missouri continues to do an outstanding job of supporting the communities they serve...