Stories from Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Former Jackson mayor and alderman Paul Sander was sworn in to fill the Ward 1 seat at Monday's regular board of aldermen meeting, and the board heard updates on projects and other action. “Paul, it's great to have you back," said Mayor Dwain Hahs to newly-sworn-in Alderman Sander. Hahs cited Sander's 14 years of mayoral experience in Jackson, and his previous seven years as Ward 1 alderman, as well as Sander's dedicated community service...

The Cape Girardeau City Council selected a design-build team Monday to improve Capaha Field and approved tax-increment financing to aid in redevelopment of the vacant Esquire Theater. The council authorized the city manager to negotiate a design-build contract with the team of Penzel Construction Co. and Gray Design Group...

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan announced Monday he will resign at 1 p.m. Aug. 13 as he expects to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a federal marshal post. In his resignation letter, Jordon wrote, “Some say the safe thing to do is wait for the final confirmation vote, but in my heart I know now is the right time and it’s also the right thing to do.” ...

When Cape Girardeau Central students return to school Aug. 16, they’ll each be provided with free breakfasts and lunches, the district announced Monday. The Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, a U. S. Department of Agriculture program, will provide the district with more than $1.5 million in assistance, said district spokeswoman Kristin Tallent. This will give the district a chance to meet students’ basic needs so they’re better able to learn...

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 7, the 219th day of 2018. There are 146 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, giving President Lyndon B. Johnson broad powers in dealing with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces...

Today is Election Day. Make it a point to vote. It's a primary election with a good amount of local races on county ballots and an important statewide initiative. Throughout the four-county area of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties, there are races for judges, prosecutors, presiding commissioners, state representatives and ballot initiatives. ...

Vacation has not been "a thing" for me throughout most of my years. I didn't grow up going on vacation annually like many families. I remember going to South Carolina twice during my elementary school years, but that's it. I still have never been to Disney World or Disneyland or whatever other Disneys there are. ...

As the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau inches closer to an expected overnight crest of 49 feet, weary flood warriors continue to wage battle against the water's assault; at 6 p.m., the river here stands at 47.9 feet; workers strengthen a sandbag levee around Red Star Baptist Church in north Cape Girardeau, and in the southwest part of town, rising waters begin to threaten more homes in the Meadowbrook area along South Kingshighway...

James Lee Dickerson, 48, of Scott City died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Missouri. He was born Nov. 23, 1969, in Cape Girardeau to James Ray and Wanda Lee Sprenger Dickerson. James had worked for Lee-Rowan in Jackson. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan...

Sidney S. Sommers, 94, of Cape Girardeau went home to his Lord Jesus on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. He was born Sept. 21, 1923, in Bronx, New York, to Jacob and Martha Horwitz Sommers. After graduating in 1942 from Hillhouse High in New Haven, Connecticut, Sid joined the Army Air Corps. ...

CORINTH, Miss. -- Sammie Carolyn Russell, 73, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at Dogwood Plantation in Corinth. She was born Aug. 26, 1944, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to the late Richard and Hallie Hendrix. She retired as customer service director for Healthcare Supply Chain Association after 25 years. She was a beautician and owned a garden center and floral shop. She enjoyed gardening, reading and spending time with her family...

Lucas Jay Respondek, 44, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 12, 1973, in Edwardsville, Illinois, son of Jerry and Leslie Skelly Respondek. He and Tammy Scoggins were married Dec. 19, 1997...

Peyton Dixon, 3, tosses rocks in a stream Monday with his mother, Alyssa Dixon, at Dennis Scivally Park in Cape Girardeau.

LONDON -- It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas at one London department store. Europe may be basking in a summer heatwave, but Selfridge's store, first opened in 1909, is thinking of chillier times, launching its Christmas Shop a full 145 days before Dec. 25...

COLON, Mich. — Look out Lyft, move over Uber: A southern Michigan man has launched a horse-and-buggy ride-hailing service. WWMT-TV reported Timothy Hochstedler dubbed his service “Amish Uber,” but he’s not affiliated with the San Francisco-based company. ...

SENGGIGI, Indonesia -- Thousands left homeless by a powerful quake rupturing roads and flattening buildings on the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok sheltered Monday night in makeshift tents as authorities said rescuers hadn't reached all devastated areas and expect the toll of 98 dead to climb...

MILAN -- A tanker truck carrying flammable material exploded Monday on a highway overpass near the northern Italian city of Bologna, killing at least two people and injuring up to 70 as it partially collapsed the raised roadway, police said. Some people were reportedly hit by flying glass as windows shattered in nearby buildings...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Investigators hunting for assailants behind a failed attempt to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro with explosives-laden drones have raided hotels and seized vehicles while grilling six suspects for details of the plot. Venezuela's socialist government alleged Sunday the detained suspects conspired with others in Miami and the capital of neighboring Colombia, though they offered no specific evidence. ...

ATAQ, Yemen -- Again and again over the past two years, a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and backed by the United States has claimed it won decisive victories driving al-Qaida militants from their strongholds across Yemen and shattering their ability to attack the West...

MONROE, N.C. -- A teenager who held up a North Carolina lemonade stand for $17 was still at large Monday, and authorities said they hoped to track him through surveillance footage and possible DNA and fingerprint tests. Neighbors were asked to check their home security cameras for possible clues, said Union County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tony Underwood. ...

CHICAGO -- At least 11 people were shot to death and about 70 wounded in a weekend burst of violence in Chicago, instantly becoming a political issue when President Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, blamed the carnage on longtime Democratic rule in the city...

Luis Vazquez and his girlfriend were down to their last $50 after she got sick and had to miss work for a month. He already paid his rent and bills for the month, but without her income, the couple couldn't cover groceries and other essentials. His next paycheck was more than a week away...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Pope Francis' decree the death penalty is "inadmissible" in all cases could pose a dilemma for Roman Catholic politicians and judges in the United States who are faced with whether to strictly follow the tenets of their faith or the rule of law...

WASHINGTON -- The United States reimposed stiff economic sanctions Monday on Iran, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic despite statements of deep dismay from European allies, three months after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the international accord limiting Iran's nuclear activities...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The government's star witness in the financial fraud trial of Paul Manafort testified Monday he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the former Trump campaign chairman -- and told jurors he and Manafort committed crimes together...

WASHINGTON -- Adoptions of Russian children? Opposition research on Hillary Clinton? President Donald Trump has for the first time acknowledged a June 9, 2016, meeting at Trump Tower was the latter. But he and his team have offered shifting explanations on the confab. That's key to special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia...

ST. LOUIS -- Gov. Mike Parson will allow a panel of five former judges to review the death penalty case of Marcellus Williams, whose guilt in the stabbing death of a former newspaper reporter has been called into question by DNA evidence. The inquiry was initially ordered last year by then-Gov. ...

O Lord Jesus, may our words and deeds bring honor and glory to you. Amen.

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrest n Bryce McCutcheon, 47, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on a State of Illinois warrant. Thefts n Theft was reported at 982 Greek Drive...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls: Sunday n Medical assists were made at 12:39 p.m. on Franks Lane, 1:33 p.m. on Parkmor Drive, 2:32 p.m. on East Riverside Drive, 3:11 p.m. on Themis Street, 7:25 p.m. on North Park Drive and 8:02 p.m. on Morgan Oak Street...

I jog and walk on the LaCroix Trail about four to five times a week and just want to give a big thank you to all of the hard-working City of Cape workers who keep the trail (and bathroom) so well kept! Kudos to all of you. Republicans want the Mueller investigation to end, stating it has gone on too long. The Benghazi investigation into Hillary Clinton took two years, the Ken Starr investigation into Bill Clinton (Whitewater and then shift to Monica Lewinsky) lasted four years...

Monday's story on former Jackson Mayor Paul Sander's appointment to the Board of Aldermen has been updated online to reflect Sander was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Leslie Logan Ozment, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at his home. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Cape Girardeau. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Lorimier Cemetery...

With the graduation of our former teen rep, semo prom mothers announces co-teen representatives, rylie Corcoran, and Jordan Jones. Rylie is at Jackson jr high and Jordyn is at the high school. Both girls are members of First Presbyterian church of Jackson and they will be busy helping with the August 24/25 open house for girls needing Homecoming dresses...

Cape Girardeau--Burrito-Ville #GiveBacktoCape program donated $500 to the Urban School Project. The donated funds will be used by Robert Harris, an active community member, to buy school supplies for kids in need. Robert Harris has worked with Burrito-Ville in the past with our #GiveBacktoCape program for fundraisers with the local parks and recreation departments. ...