Stories from Friday, August 3, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri voters will likely get a chance to weigh in on proposals to change state redistricting, increase the state's minimum wage and legalize medical marijuana when they head to the polls in November. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on Thursday approved the initiatives for the Nov. 6 ballot, though they could still face court challenges from opponents hoping to block the measures from going to voters...

It's still summertime, which means we're still going strong with events in Southeast Missouri. Two big names will perform here this weekend: Don Curry at the Arena Building on Saturday and Gene Watson at the River Campus today. On Saturday, ease your way into the upcoming rodeo season with the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Parade in downtown Sikeston...

Since 2011, every August, the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau has gathered school supplies and packed them into bags for children in need -- not just because they want to give back to the community, but because they need to. Ahmad Sheikh, a practicing doctor in Cape Girardeau and member of the Islamic Center, said in Islam, members share two things: worldly belongings that come from God, and words of wisdom that come from God...

Today is Friday, Aug. 3, the 215th day of 2018. There are 150 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 3, 1936, Jesse Owens of the United States won the first of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics as he took the 100-meter sprint...

This weekend will be a huge shopping weekend in the state of Missouri. It's back-to-school sales tax holiday season in the state, the time when many school-related items can be purchased without having to pay sales tax. There is always a bit of confusion as to what this means for consumers when they hear that local jursidictions "opt out." When that happens, shoppers still have their Missouri sales tax removed from their purchase, but they may not receive the break on their local taxes...

Last week I told you how, in my eight years of retirement, I've made a career of doing only the things I want to do. I also told you how, for a couple of days last week, I was stretched well beyond my goal of doing just one thing a day, with weekends off. As a matter of fact I was challenged to do a dozen things...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials say the Trump administration is staffing up a Middle East policy team at the White House in anticipation of unveiling its long awaited but largely mysterious Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. The National Security Council last week began approaching other agencies seeking volunteers to join the team, which will work for President Donald Trump's Mideast peace pointmen Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, according to the officials. ...

WASHINGTON -- White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to distance herself Thursday from President Donald Trump's assertions the media is the "enemy" of the American people. Pressed during a White House briefing on the issue, Sanders said Trump "has made his position known."...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple is the world's first publicly traded company to be valued at $1 trillion, the financial fruit of stylish technology redefining what we expect from our gadgets. The milestone reached Thursday marks the latest triumph of a trend-setting company two mavericks named Steve started in a Silicon Valley garage 42 years ago...

The flood crest predicted tomorrow at Cape Girardeau has been revised downward to 48.5 feet, according to the National Weather Service; the crest had been predicted at 49 feet; the revision was caused by levee breaks north of the city. PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Streets in Perryville remain dry, but Mississippi River flooding has impacted this town; a levee just a few miles east gave way last week, flooding thousands of acres; two major employers, Sabreliner and Gilster-Mary Lee, are under water...

Southeast Missouri State University assistant professor of musical theatre, directing and acting Michael McIntosh just returned from New York along with more than 30 Southeast students and faculty from their once-in-a-lifetime Broadway production of "An American Hero," a milestone three years in the making...

LOS ANGELES -- After six movies, 22 years, countless bruises and a broken ankle, Tom Cruise's death-defying "Mission: Impossible" stunts continue to pay off at the box office. "Mission: Impossible -- Fallout" easily took the No. 1 spot on the domestic charts this weekend. Paramount Pictures estimates it earned $61.5 million from 4,386 North American theaters...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Mary Elizabeth Woods, 95, formerly of Lutesville, Portageville, and Marquand, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at The Baptist Home in Ironton, Missouri. Beth was born Sept. 12, 1922, in Mississippi County, Arkansas, the daughter of Oscar and Octa Rhodes Upchurch...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Wanda Lee Lemonds, 85, of Delta passed away Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at home in Omaha, surrounded by family. She was a beloved wife, mother, "Maw Maw," sister and "Aunt Bug." She has gone home. No more not being her, no more not remembering, no more fighting, no more Alzheimer's disease. She will be forever loved and remembered...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Betty J. Grojean, 82, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Nov. 1, 1935, in Blomeyer, Missouri, to Emmett and Bertha Cato McBride. She and Charles Grojean were married Dec. 27, 1952, at Chaffee. He preceded her in death Dec. 1, 2015...

PATTON, Mo. -- Robert (Bob) Edward Fulton, 86, died Sunday, July 29, 2018, at Perryville, Missouri, within weeks of a stomach and liver cancer diagnosis. Bob was born Sept. 8, 1931, in St. Louis, the oldest son of Hadley James Fulton and Gleta Miinch Fulton. Bob grew up on a farm near Patton and after graduating from high school, taught for four years in one-room schools in the Patton area...

Victoria Lynn Abernathy, 70, of Jackson died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 13, 1948, in Cape Girardeau to James Reed and Belva Jean Niswonger Litzelfelner. Victoria was a 1966 Jackson High School graduate, where she was active in the marching band as a twirler and head majorette. ...

DAYTON, Ohio -- A 911 call at a sprawling Air Force base Thursday sent armored vehicles and unmarked police cars rushing to a medical center where people hid behind locked doors until authorities determined there was no threat. During an extensive search after the call, a security team member shot through a locked door while checking rooms throughout the hospital, according to officials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base...

The United States needs to invest in drug treatment programs to combat opioid addiction, Missouri Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley said Thursday during a campaign stop in Cape Girardeau. Hawley said he would like to see the federal government encourage research to develop medicines to help opioid addicts overcome their addiction...

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has decreed the death penalty is "inadmissible" under all circumstances and the Catholic Church must work to abolish it, changing official church teaching to reflect his view that all life is sacred and there is no justification for state-sponsored executions...

UPPER LAKE, Calif. -- Just a month into the budget year, California has already spent more than one-quarter of its annual fire budget, at least $125 million, state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Mike Mohler said Wednesday. Following years of drought and a summer of record-breaking heat, immense tracts of forests, chaparral and grasslands have become tinder that allows even a small spark to explode into a devouring blaze, authorities said...

The latest NBC poll has President Trump's approval rating climbing to 45 percent, and the Democrat's generic midterm election lead dropping to 6 percent. Looks like America will keep winning as Democrats keep losing. The Washington Post proudly proclaimed that the "FBI believed Carter Page had been recruited by the Russians." Three FISA warrants and more than a year later and the FBI still can't prove its belief. ...

Heavenly Father, thank you that through your son Jesus we can have eternal life. Amen.

WASHINGTON -- Responding to wide-ranging criticism it lacked a clear national strategy to protect U.S. elections, the Trump administration put on a show of force Thursday and said the president had directed a "vast, government-wide effort" to safeguard a cornerstone of American democracy...

CLEVELAND -- A solid-gold replica of the Apollo 11 lunar module stolen a year ago from an Ohio museum honoring the late astronaut Neil Armstrong has yet to be recovered. Five-inch-tall replicas created by Cartier were given to Armstrong and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins in Paris during a goodwill tour following their historic moon mission in 1969...

WASHINGTON -- The White House said Thursday that President Donald Trump received a new letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and responded quickly with a letter of his own. The correspondence, following up on their Singapore summit, came amid fresh concerns over Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearization...

Daughter to Stacee and Sarah Moyers of Sikeston, Missouri, Southeast Hospital, 5:30 a.m. Sunday, July 22, 2018. Name, Brynlee Kate. Weight, 7 pounds, 7 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Moyers is the daughter of Robert and Jill Lewis of Jackson. She works at Animal Health Center. Moyers is the son of James and Rosezetta Moyers of Cape Girardeau. He is employed by Do It Best Corp...

On Wednesday, the southbound lane of Mount Auburn Road between Gordonville Road and William Street in Cape Girardeau will be reduced to one lane, according to a city news release. Private contractors will be performing storm water work for a new development, according to the release...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Wednesday n Medical assists were made at 4:18 a.m. on North Fountain Street, 6:34 a.m. on Linden Street, 7:32 a.m. on Brenda Kay Court, 8:19 a.m. on South Lake Drive, 8:57 a.m. ...