Stories from Saturday, February 2, 2019

The Cape Girardeau County Recorder’s Office did not receive any tax liens filed, expunged or discharged for the month of January, employee Sherry Goodman said. Goodman said it is “unheard of” to not receive any tax liens in a one-month time frame, and said the federal government shutdown likely affected the IRS’s activity surrounding tax liens...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — A Poplar Bluff Early Childhood student has died following what was described as a “tragic accident” at approximately 10 a.m. Friday. The name of the child, a 4-year-old boy, is not being released at this time, officials said. According to Poplar Bluff School District superintendent Scott Dill, students were participating in a physical education class where multiple adults were supervising children...

While there has been an uptick in illness at some schools recently, Southeast Missouri’s flu season so far is not as severe as last year, according to Cape Girardeau County Public Health Department. Vanessa Presley, Cape Girardeau County communicable disease coordinator and public health nurse, said the flu season started off pretty slow, but it has picked up...

A “quarterback group” whose aim is to revitalize South Cape Girardeau in an effort known as “Purpose Built Communities” is taking its message out into the community. Called PORCH, for People Organized to Revitalize Community Healing, the group Friday addressed the city’s business sector in a program during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee event...

Cape Girardeau city officials hope to bridge an engineering gap at city hall by contracting for services with a local firm for at least the next six months. The city has been looking for a qualified candidate to serve as city engineer for several months, but has not found a candidate with the desired training, experience and qualifications, said development services director Alex McElroy...

Today is Saturday, Feb. 2, the 33rd day of 2019. There are 332 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Feb. 2, 1990, in a dramatic concession to South Africa's black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela...

The Scott City Council gathered for an unannounced meeting Monday night and, without news media present, discussed its plan of action regarding riverboat gambling; the result was a decision to put forth a city ordinance at the next regular council meeting that, if passed, would allow voters to decide whether or not they want riverboat gambling in Scott City...

Mr. and Mrs. Lester M. Wells of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 1. Wells and the former Patricia Horton were married Feb. 1, 1969, at Christ the King Catholic Church in University City, Missouri. The Rev. Charles C. Deister performed the ceremony...

Terry and Darlene Johnston of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Darla Johnston, to Michael Smith, both of Scott City. He is the son of Joe and Debbie Smith of Advance, Missouri. Darla is a graduate of Scott City High School and received a degree in criminal justice in 2011 from Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed by the state of Missouri in Cape Girardeau...

Monday: Pepper steak or smothered pork with gravy, Chantilly potatoes, Brussels sprouts, whole-grain hot roll and sugar-free apple crisp or coconut delight. Tuesday: Spaghetti with meatballs or sweet and sour chicken with rice, buttered corn, garden salad, whole-grain garlic bread and chilled pears or pineapple cake...

The morning after our recent January snow was bright and cold. My wife and I walked with our dog. I took this photo mainly to show the difference between a domesticated dog's tracks and the tracks of a red fox. I realized the tracks made by my wife would show perfect perspective in relationship to the size of the fox tracks. In the photo you can see the dog tracks going from the bottom center and curving to the left crossing the human tracks. Domestic dogs walk in a rather erratic manner...

Submitted by Safe Harbor Rosie is a sweet 2-year-old boxer and probably pit mix. She is good with people and animals. She are available for adoption at Safe Harbor; call (573) 243-9823.

Most everyone who gardens grows tomatoes of one kind and color. Some like them red and some yellow, while others like them black and others like them orange. But one thing about growing tomatoes: most of us want them to taste good. Some, however, grow tomatoes to sell to an indiscriminate clientele, so taste isn't as important as appearance. Almost all of the time, it is next to impossible to get that perfect tomato, one that tastes good and looks good and grows good. Virtually impossible...

February is American Heart Month, and Saint Francis Healthcare is holding free heart screenings every Wednesday in February. Space is limited and registration is required by calling (573) 331-3996. Screenings will be held at the Health and Wellness Conference Center, 150 S. Mount Auburn Road (Entrance 8) from 7 to 10 a.m. Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27...

Prep surface. Gathering spot. Storage solution. The kitchen island is one of those home elements that seems to have known its purpose from its inception: a utilitarian divider between kitchen and family zones, the heart of the home. Over the years, the kitchen island has come to offer far more than counter space. It might include a cooktop, bookshelves, drop-down bar, sink and acres of granite...

Everyone is looking for the "secret sauce" that makes every relationship perfect. Scan the magazine headlines at the grocery checkout, and you will see shallow promises of relationship fulfillment with titles such as, "Five Steps to Relationship Bliss," "Ten Ways to Drive Him Wild," or "Four Ways to Give Her What She Wants." Captivating titles that sell magazines but leave your relationship as empty as your bank account...

The state of Washington is currently experiencing a measles outbreak. Curiously, the disease has mostly been contained to a specific area of the state. Public health officials lay the blame for this outbreak on the fact that this specific area is known as an "anti-vaccination" hotspot. The region has a 78% vaccination rate, which is well below the 94% needed rate to guarantee communal protection against a disease...

Among U.S. Colored Troop soldiers organized in Michigan were 14 men who at enlistment indicated birth in Southeast Missouri. From regional counties, they were: Cape Girardeau -- Washington and Lewis Giboney (brothers), Whalen Gray, Andrew Farr[ar], Jacob, John, and Henderson Russell; Bollinger -- George Dillon (Johnson); New Madrid -- James Waters Dorsey; Mississippi -- Joseph Ramsey; Scott -- George Godfrey, Thomas Jefferson (an alias); Ste. ...

The parents of Shianne Knepper of Old Appleton and Andrew Leimer of Cape Girardeau announce their children's engagement. Shianne is the daughter of Jamie Buchheit of Old Appleton and the late Robbin Buchheit. Andrew is the son of Lee Leimer and Lisa Smith, both of Cape Girardeau...

Submitted by Shirley Young The John Guild Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held their December 2018 meeting at the home of Morgan Lake. Also hosting were Lorilee Short and Chandler Short. The theme was "Hats off to our Junior Members." Pictured from left are: Beth Biri, chapter regent; Jennifer Johnson, new member; Judy Martin, new member; Julie Robinson, chapter chaplin; and Linda Hutson, membership chairman. ...

Jamaican mother Geneva Bennett didn't have access last January to the C-section that could have prevented her daughter, Isabel, from tearing the nerves in her arm as she became stuck in the birth canal for more than six minutes. But thanks to two Poplar Bluff residents and the Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, Izzy received surgery Jan. 15 to begin repairing that damage...

Scott City High School High Honor Roll 9th grade: Brett Boswell, Peyton Cave, Sydney Cobb, Kacie Daigger, Brianna Freeman, Nicolas Glastetter, Keaton Lacey, Landon Pullam, Cheyenne Rhones, Abigail Umfleet, Britnwy Wright. 10th grade: Jersey Black, Camden Conner, Jordan Greer, Sabrina Henson, Kelsie Job, Taylor Kluesner, Misty Mason, Amber Tuttleton...

Alma Schrader Elementary School A Honor Roll 3rd grade: Makenzie Britt, Donna Cai, Avery Caldwell, Anthony Cattaneo, Elijah Cheek, Kinley Couch, Connor Crosnoe, Nolan Evans, Margaret Florian, Amelia Fox, Connor Glueck, Jace Graham, Julia Gray, Tayven Hale, Isla Hammond, Lena Hart, Liam Hellwege, Allie Hogan, Alaina Honza, Niyah Johnson, Eli Kight, William Lawrence, Mya Lentz, Clayton Long, Madison Lowrey, Karsynne McAlister, Elizabeth McClanahan, Kai McDowell, Kendall McDowell, Luke Merriman, Annabell Morgan, Samuel Morris, Paxton Nguyen, Caroline Ogles, Jessica Pham, Chrisean Pullett, Brayden Riehl, Kierston Rivers, Audrina Roach, Wyatt Segraves, Chloe Sheridan, Aven Smith, Jamison Wagganer, Collin White, Monica Yang.. ...

Cape Girardeau Central High School First Semester A Honor Roll 12th grade: Payton Alexander, Timothy Babers, Kayla Barry, Miracle Bird, Jeffrey Bittle, Keely Blankenship, Cameron Borders, Anna Branson, Macie Brinkopf, Elise Caldwell, Desirea Carver, Emily Craig, Alyssa Davis, Clayton Deimund, Hyrum Dickson, Dashandreiona Egson, Hunter Epley, Beta Epps, Ethan Etter, Madison Fouts, Grace Goeckeler, Lacey Graham, John Grammer, Maggie Grimm,Katherine Hallman, Weston Hopper, Darian Huffman, Lelani Hughes, Michael Hwang, Zachary Kelley, Jaden Kight, Matthew Kinder, Cole Knight, David Knight, Jacquelyn Lang, James Laramore, Olivia Layton, Scott Limbaugh, Kortnea Little, Jordan Long, Anna Mattison, Jordan Maxton, Allison McDonald, Emily Medlock, Graeme Moore, Jared Neikirk, Erin Nelson, Caleb Oswald, Logan Perry, Kaitlin Prasanphanich, Kamdyn Rhodes, Daysi Rodriguez Guardado, Trenton Sandusky, Clayton Seabaugh, Ellie Senn, Hayden Smee, Morgan Stafford, Ashley Stone, Devon Tiemann, Cameron Tillotson, Thaworn Umpansap, Austin Widner, Levis Wilson. ...

Cape Girardeau Middle School A Honor Roll 5th grade: Damaris Anceno, Eleanor Andrews, Safera Archie, Ava Austin, Jayden Austin, Delante Bailey, Samora Baldwin, Ayden Berry, Reagan Borders, Hayden Bowers, Benjamin Broeckling, Angelo Brooker, Destiny Brown, Nakyiah Brown, Hadley Browne, Elizabeth Brunkhorst, Alexandrea Burgos, Kevin Cai, Noah Caldwell, Caden Chenoweth, Breijon Clemons, Briley Clemons, Caden Coher, Breven Coleman, Adeline Cook, Gunner Coon, Jaslene Cos Knutson, Hailey Coston, Eliza Criblez, Abigail Cronenbold, Alexius Cross, Adalee Cutrell, Abigail Davenport, Brenna Dunavan, Kamryn Dunivan, Spencer Engelhardt, Seth Ferguson, Kaleigh Fisher, Kiera Fitzpatrick, Zea Grabel, Sophie Haggerty, Ethan Hagler, Ava Harrison, Marley Hawkins, Thomas Hazard, Heidi Hellwege, Maxwell Heuring, Zade Hickey, Sanaa Hillard, Kyleigh Hunter, Kacy Ivie, Mena Jackson, Hunter Jones, Reuben Kamau, Mason Kellison, Landon Koehler, Chase Lawson, Jamara Lebine, Kevondre Logan, Emily Marberry, Layla Masterson, Harper McClard, Neshay McClinton, Stephon McElmurry, Shalie McGuire, Anna Meyer, Kayleigh Milam, Bruce Miller, Sydney Miller, William Miller, Vivian Nordin, Demarion Nunley, Chapman Ogles, Maxton Pardon, Morgan Patrick, Colton Poole, Kaleb Ramdial, Matthew Reed, Kamryn Rice, Luna Risch, Iynata Roberts, Nicole Sadler, Soren Schmidt, Kent Sheridan, Grant Skelton, Emma Smith, Tyrice Smith, Janessa Southall, Jathan Spain, Jacie Spooler, Sankriti Srikant, Blayne Sterling, Ethan Stout, Jaden Sutton, Tyla Triplett-Whitaker, Delaney Ware, Hunter Welker, Elliott Williams, Haylie Williams, Jonathan Williams, Kaleb Williams, Adrienne Wilson.. ...

Oak Ridge High School 9th grade: Sieanna Crowden, Logan DeWitt, Caitlyn Ernst, Reagan Froemsdorf, Paige Glueck, Jiliyan Hobeck, Mary-Beth Jensen, Ethan Ruehling, Eli Sachse, Mylee Schilling, Alex Seyer. 10th grade: Alyssa Grable, Erin Grayhek, Philip Marshall, Bailey Urhahn,...

Oak Ridge R-6 Elementary School 4th grade: Chloe Berry, Mason Bolin, Addilyn Burnett, Zaydan Douglas, James Hope, Brody Meyer, Karlie Moore, Lane Price, Jon Sachse, Olivia Schaper, Jason Seabaugh, Lexie Seiler, Grace Unterreiner, Levi Vickers. 5th grade: Addy Barks, Kinsley Bogenpohl, Emma Boyd, Molly Buchanan, Landon Burnett, Abby DeWitt, Reagan Ernst, Emmie Gamel, Hayley Hahs, Leanna Johnson, Colbi Mool, Kaleb Novak, Phalicity Pollock, Addie Price, Jayleigh Price, Lucas Putz, Dalaine Weinkein, Landon Zoellner.. ...

The following students have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2019-2020 academic year: n Luke Collins of Jackson has received the Copper Dome Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award. Collins is the son of Brian and Jackee Collins of Jackson. He will be a 2019 graduate of Jackson High School...

Father God, we seek and ask you to give us wisdom in all decisions. Amen.

The Towers renovation project at Southeast Missouri State University has hit a snag over a labor union official's complaints there have been violations of the prevailing wage law; the complaints center around the university's decision to expand the renovation of two of the campus' high-rise residence halls to include a new chilled water cooling system...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said Friday he has turned down offers from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with embattled Nicolas Maduro, a day before nationwide street protests called to escalate pressure on the socialist leader to step down...

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A measles outbreak near Portland, Oregon, has revived a bitter debate over so-called "philosophical" exemptions to childhood vaccinations as public health officials across the Pacific Northwest scramble to limit the fallout. At least 43 people in Washington and Oregon have fallen ill in recent weeks with the extraordinarily contagious virus, which was eradicated in the U.S. ...

At the heart of Apple's shocking FaceTime bug, which allowed just about anyone to turn an iPhone into a live microphone, stands a 14-year-old boy who stumbled upon the eavesdropping flaw more than a week before Apple took action. "The thing that surprised me the most was that this glitch happened in the first place," said Grant Thompson, a high school freshman in Tucson, Arizona. "I'm only 14, and I found it by accident, instead of the people at Apple that get paid to find glitches."...

CHICAGO -- The dangerous cold and heavy snow hobbling the northern U.S. this week has retreated, but not before exacting a human toll: more than two dozen weather-related deaths in eight states and hundreds of injuries, including frostbite, broken bones, heart attacks and carbon monoxide poisoning...

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is pulling the plug on a decades-old nuclear arms treaty with Russia, lifting what it sees as unreasonable constraints on competing with a resurgent Russia and a more assertive China. The move announced Friday sets the stage for delicate talks with U.S. allies over potential new American missile deployments...

WASHINGTON -- Cory Booker leapt into the 2020 presidential race Friday with a call for Americans to unite in a time of bitter polarization while some of his Democratic rivals are taking a more combative stance as they vie to take on President Donald Trump...

WASHINGTON -- For all of President Donald Trump's talk about "America first," the next two years of his presidency could shine a sharp spotlight on America abroad. His State of the Union address Tuesday will be dissected for clues on how he'll deal with a full plate of foreign policy challenges. His words will serve as fodder for ongoing partisan debate about whether his decisions will have passing or long-lasting effects on the world...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's page in his 1984 medical school yearbook contains a photo of a person in blackface and another wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood next to different pictures of the governor. The revelation of the photographs prompted some Republicans to call for his resignation Friday. Northam quickly apologized...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers shrugged off last month's partial shutdown of the government and engaged in a burst of hiring in January, adding 304,000 jobs, the most in nearly a year. The healthy gain the government reported Friday illustrated the job market's resilience nearly a decade into the economic expansion. The U.S. has now added jobs for 100 straight months, the longest such period on record...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two brothers and a woman have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme to lure victims with online advertisements in order to rob them. Federal prosecutors said 22-year-old Dylan Houston and 29-year-old Andrew Houston, both from Kansas City, and 36-year-old Nicole Waguespack of Sugar Creek were sentenced in separate appearances in federal court Thursday...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis police are searching for a would-be robber whose crime was thwarted when his gun got stuck in his pants. Police told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch a gunman walked into a Family Dollar store Thursday afternoon and ordered an employee to give him the cash register. The worker said he couldn't, so the suspect reached for a firearm from the waistband of his jeans...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is facing questions about compliance with open-records laws while he was serving as Missouri's attorney general. At issue are emails between Attorney General's Office staffers and OnMessage consultants, who gave directions to official staffers shortly after Hawley assumed leadership in January 2017. The consultants later went on to work for Hawley's senatorial campaign against former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill...

ST. LOUIS -- Education officials are blaming a drop in the academic performance of Missouri students last year on the state changing its standardized testing and the threshold for passing four times in five years. The percentage of students passing English exams statewide dipped to 49 percent last year, down from 61 percent in 2017, according to state data. Math scores fell to 42 percent in 2018, down from 47 percent in 2017, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported...

Tucked back off of state highway D, in Oak Ridge, is a barn that holds more than just horses: it holds hope. Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship (MVTH) offers equine therapy to individuals -- from child to adult -- with special needs. There are several organizations through Southeast Missouri that are aligned to save and rescue animals. MVTH flips that script, and brings animals to humans to bring them health and hope...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sonja Darnell Warning, 58, of Sikeston died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, at her home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Charleston, Missouri...

Julia Marie Moore of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at Chateau Girardeau at the age of 99 years, 7 months and 11 days. The daughter of the late Joe Thomas and Rhoda Evelyn Kelly Patrick, she was born June 17, 1919, near Bloomfield, Missouri. Julia lived near Bloomfield in the Beech Grove Community until moving to Cape Girardeau in 2004. On Oct. 13, 1934, she married Elzie "Monk" Moore near Bloomfield. He preceded her in death June 6, 1996...

Gregory Lamar Lowry, 60, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County, Missouri. Visitaiton will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held at noon Saturday at the funeral home...

Jo Nelle Lingo, 91, of Memphis, Tennessee, formerly of Jackson, passed away Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at The Legacy at Lenox Park in Memphis, where she had been a resident for several years. She was born Oct. 24, 1927, in Ramer, Tennessee, daughter of James F. and Allene Maxedon Burress Sr. She and William C. Lingo were married Dec. 18, 1948, in Memphis. He passed away Nov. 15, 1999...

Lana Annette Durham, 55, of Millersville died suddenly Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, and is now in Heaven with Grandma Veda. Lana was born Aug. 23, 1963, in Fredericktown, Missouri, to Harry B. and Brenda K. Clark Collier III. She attended Southeast Missouri State University and was a sales agent for Discount Insurance in Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Marilyn Kay Cook, 69, of Chaffee died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mike Schupert officiating. Burial will be in Lightner Cemetery in Scott City...

The recent New York legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is nothing short of evil. I can't understand why anyone could support this extreme position. If you missed Adrienne Ross' column in Tuesday's Southeast Missourian, I encourage you to give it a read. She outlined several of the components that have now become a Constitutional right in the Empire State...

SALT LAKE CITY -- National park visitors cut new trails in sensitive soil. They pried open gates while no one was watching. They found bathrooms locked, so they went outside. One off-roader even mowed down an iconic twisted-limbed Joshua tree in California...